📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Biswarup Ganguly
International
Air India Delhi‑Riyadh flight returns after Houthi strike on Saudi airport, ops suspended till October
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 11:31 PM
👁 14
An Air India flight bound for Riyadh turned back to Delhi after a Houthi attack hit a Saudi airport, prompting the carrier to suspend all Delhi‑Riyadh services until October.
Air India’s scheduled service from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Riyadh was forced to return to Delhi after a Houthi missile strike damaged a Saudi Arabian airport earlier today. The airline confirmed that the aircraft, carrying passengers and crew, landed safely without injuries and was subsequently taken out of service pending a safety review.
The Houthi group, based in Yemen, has intensified attacks on commercial aviation targets in the region, raising concerns for airlines operating in the Middle East. In response, Air India announced the suspension of all flights on the Delhi‑Riyadh corridor until October, citing the need to ensure passenger safety and to assess the security situation.
Passengers on the affected flight were rebooked on alternative routes where possible, and the airline is coordinating with Indian and Saudi authorities to facilitate refunds and onward travel. The suspension also aligns with advisories issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which urges travelers to avoid non‑essential travel to Saudi Arabia until the threat level eases.
Air India’s decision underscores the broader impact of regional conflicts on international air connectivity, with airlines reassessing routes that traverse volatile airspace. The carrier will monitor developments and resume services once security conditions are deemed stable.
The Houthi group, based in Yemen, has intensified attacks on commercial aviation targets in the region, raising concerns for airlines operating in the Middle East. In response, Air India announced the suspension of all flights on the Delhi‑Riyadh corridor until October, citing the need to ensure passenger safety and to assess the security situation.
Passengers on the affected flight were rebooked on alternative routes where possible, and the airline is coordinating with Indian and Saudi authorities to facilitate refunds and onward travel. The suspension also aligns with advisories issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which urges travelers to avoid non‑essential travel to Saudi Arabia until the threat level eases.
Air India’s decision underscores the broader impact of regional conflicts on international air connectivity, with airlines reassessing routes that traverse volatile airspace. The carrier will monitor developments and resume services once security conditions are deemed stable.