A stationary Saudia Airbus A320 narrow-body airliner was heavily damaged and caught fire at King Khalid International Airport
(RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following an aerial attack by Houthi forces.
This drone and missile strike on the parked Saudia Airbus A320 occurred yesterday, Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Summary of the Incident
The Footage: Geolocation by journalists verified footage showing a thick black column of smoke and flames rising from a parked Saudia aircraft at a terminal gate. Images circulating on social media show the majority of the Airbus A320’s fuselage severely burned out.
Disputed Cause: Social media reports and specific commentators claim the plane was hit by a one-way kamikaze attack drone. However, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, officially claimed the precision strike was carried out by a ballistic missile. Conversely, local defense sources and the Saudi-led coalition indicate the catastrophic damage may have been caused by shrapnel falling from a failed missile interception.
Casualties: Fortunately, the aircraft was completely empty of passengers at the time of the impact. However, broader Houthi missile and drone salvos targeting Riyadh and Abha airports during that week resulted in multiple civilian fatalities and dozens of injuries.
Aftermath and Global Aviation Response
The strike triggered massive disruptions, forcing FlightAware and flight trackers to record over 335 cancellations and severe ground stops at King Khalid International Airport.
Following threats from Houthi leadership warning international carriers to steer clear of Saudi airspace, major airlines—including Lufthansa Group, Air India, and IndiGo—temporarily suspended or diverted flights to Riyadh. Additionally, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an updated bulletin recommending airlines avoid operating within large swaths of the Jeddah flight information region (FIR) due to heightened risks to aircraft on the ground.
