A Saudia Airbus A320 was heavily damaged and burned at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after a Houthi missile attack on the Saudi capital on 8 October 2026. The parked aircraft was left effectively destroyed, and the incident triggered temporary disruption to airport operations and airline schedules.
Reuters cited three people briefed on the matter as saying the jet caught fire while parked at a terminal, with damage possibly caused by shrapnel from an interception or another projectile. Video and images showed a large plume of smoke rising from the airport, while the aircraft appeared to have suffered near-total burn damage. The plane was believed to be empty at the time, and no confirmed casualties aboard the aircraft were reported.
The attack formed part of a wider Houthi assault on Riyadh, underscoring the direct aviation risk to carriers serving the Saudi capital. Several airlines, including Lufthansa Group carriers, adjusted or suspended Riyadh services after the incident, reflecting concern over near-term network disruption. Saudi authorities had not publicly set out a detailed account of the strike mechanism, and the exact cause of the fire remained unconfirmed in the initial reporting.