RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – An unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport on October 11, starting a fire and causing injuries, Saudi authorities said. The strike came one day after a separate attack on the airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, said the projectile hit the terminal and emergency authorities responded to the fire. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed the new attack and said officials were assessing damage and checking the safety of airport facilities.
The latest incident added to concerns about civilian air travel in Saudi Arabia. The airport had remained closed following Saturday’s deadly attack, and the latest official statements reviewed for this report did not confirm a reopening.
New Strike Hits Terminal 4
The coalition described the object that struck Terminal 4 as an unidentified projectile. Its initial statement did not identify the weapon or establish who launched it.
The coalition separately announced that Saudi air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near King Khalid International Airport on October 11.
Officials have not confirmed that the intercepted missile was the same object that hit Terminal 4. The two events must therefore be treated as separate incidents unless authorities establish a connection.
GACA said the terminal strike caused injuries. Later casualty reporting put the toll from Sunday’s attack at one person killed and 11 injured, although the authority’s initial public statement did not provide those figures.
The authority said damage assessments and safety inspections were underway in coordination with the relevant agencies. It had not released a detailed account of the damage to Terminal 4 in the statements reviewed for this report.
Earlier Attack Killed 13
The latest strike followed a more deadly attack on October 10. Saudi authorities initially reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries from that incident.
The death toll later rose to 13 after an Indian national died from injuries sustained in Saturday’s attack, according to India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia.
The earlier attack caused significant damage at the airport and prompted authorities to suspend operations while they assessed the facilities and their safety.
The two casualty figures refer to separate incidents. The 13 deaths occurred in the October 10 attack; the fatality and injuries reported on October 11 relate to the subsequent strike.
Keeping the incidents separate is important as authorities continue to assess the damage and update casualty information.
Airport Closure and Flight Disruptions
King Khalid International Airport remained closed in the latest reports reviewed after the October 11 strike. However, the official statements available for this report did not establish when operations would resume.
The closure has disrupted flights serving the Saudi capital. Airlines have cancelled or delayed services, while some carriers have adjusted their schedules in response to the security situation.
The US Federal Aviation Administration also issued a safety advisory urging US operators to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. The advisory cited risks linked to military activity and possible interference with navigation systems.
Passengers should check directly with their airlines and the airport operator for current flight information. A reported airport closure does not, by itself, establish the status of every airline, route or airport service.
Houthis Claim Responsibility for Attacks
Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi airport facilities, including the October 10 strike at Riyadh. The group also renewed warnings to airlines, airport workers and travelers against using Saudi airports.
The coalition’s initial statement about Sunday’s Terminal 4 strike, however, described an unidentified projectile and did not independently establish who launched it.
The Houthi claims and the coalition’s account are distinct statements. A claim of responsibility is not the same as an independently verified finding about the origin of a particular projectile.
The repeated attacks have increased pressure on Saudi authorities to protect civilian airports and maintain safe flight operations. They have also raised concerns about the risk of further disruption to travel across the region.
Dammam Airport Also Targeted
Saudi authorities reported a separate attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on the evening of October 11.
GACA said damage assessments and safety inspections were underway there as well. Its initial statement did not provide a full account of the damage or confirm when normal operations would resume.
The Dammam incident broadens the aviation-security concern beyond Riyadh. However, authorities have not established that every reported attack involved the same weapon or followed the same sequence.
The incidents underline the challenge of protecting civilian aviation facilities during a wider regional conflict. They do not, on their own, establish the military objective behind the attacks or the effectiveness of Saudi air defenses.
Investigation and Safety Checks Continue
Saudi authorities are continuing to assess damage and inspect airport facilities after the repeated attacks. The available official statements do not provide a final account of the Terminal 4 strike or confirm the identity of the projectile.
The coalition’s report of a separate missile interception shows that air-defense activity continued near the airport, but officials have not linked that interception directly to the terminal impact.
The Houthi movement’s warnings have added to concerns for airlines and passengers. Meanwhile, aviation authorities have urged operators to account for the changing security conditions when planning flights.
For now, the confirmed picture remains limited: a projectile struck Terminal 4 and caused a fire and injuries; a separate cruise missile was intercepted nearby; and the airport remained closed in the latest reports reviewed.
Further official updates are needed to establish the full damage, confirm the final casualty figures and determine when the airport can safely resume operations.
Reporting Credit: Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation; Saudi-led coalition spokesperson; Saudi airport authorities; US Federal Aviation Administration.
