Air India and IndiGo suspend Riyadh flights amid reports of an attack

Air India and IndiGo cancelled or changed some flights to Riyadh after explosions were reported near the city’s international airport. The Houthis said they had attacked the airport with a missile, but the Associated Press said the claim had not been substantiated.

Air India said flight AI2243 from Delhi returned to its departure city on October 8 for passenger and crew safety and was later cancelled. The carrier offered full refunds and suspended flights to and from Riyadh through October 10. Air India Express also cancelled its services through that date.

An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Riyadh was diverted to Dammam. The Hindu reported that the airline did not explain the diversion. IndiGo also cancelled some services between Riyadh and Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai on Thursday and Friday. Airlines asked passengers to check their flight status before travelling.

The cancellations followed reports of explosions and halted flights at King Khalid International Airport. The Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack but did not provide evidence, while Saudi authorities did not publicly confirm their account. The regional situation remained fluid, and carriers warned that further schedule changes were possible.