The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported today that 12 individuals died and 309 individuals sustained injuries during an attack on King Khalid International Airport located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This event resulted in the immediate suspension of all flights at the airport and required numerous flights to be diverted or canceled. GACA identified that among the deceased were four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi citizens and one citizen from each of the following countries: USA, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Many of the injured persons are said to be in critical condition. Airport Operations Suspended After the incident, all movement of aircraft was suspended while emergency personnel attended to injured persons and authorities evaluated the safety of the airport facilities. Reuters reported that all flights arriving in Riyadh were diverted on Saturday.
Additionally, airlines canceled scheduled services which left many passengers stranded. Passengers were encouraged to check with their airline regarding any changes to their flight schedules. Emergency Medical Response Emergency services provided transportation for injured persons to local hospitals. Reuters reported that injured persons arrived at hospitals via ambulances and helicopters based upon reports from individuals who received briefings on the emergency response.
Third Attack in Less Than One Week The attack on Saturday was the third attack on King Khalid International Airport in less than one week. According to the Saudi Press Agency, two previous attacks on October 8th damaged airport facilities and an aircraft operated by Saudia. The most recent attack occurs during a period of increased conflict between Yemen’s Houthi movement and forces supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
The Saudi-led military coalition attributed Saturday’s attack to the Houthis and denounced the use of civilian aviation facilities as targets. Airport Safety Assessment GACA acknowledged that Saturday’s attack resulted in property damage.
Authorities are currently evaluating the extent of property damage and working collaboratively with appropriate security organizations. Authorities are evaluating the current operational condition of airport facilities to verify the safety of passengers, personnel and aviation infrastructure. As of the writing of this article, there has been no independent confirmation of the latest operational status of the airport.
