Loud blast at Riyadh airport as travellers evacuated and airlines cancel flights

Riyadh's international airport witnessed a loud blast on Saturday, prompting a swift response from more than a dozen ambulances rushing to the scene. Travellers were evacuated from specific areas of the facility following the alarming incident. This event is part of a growing trend of missile strikes by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels targeting the kingdom.

The Saudi government's media office and the Saudi civil aviation authority have not yet commented on the latest blast. Flight tracking website Flightradar24 reported that all flights to Riyadh had been either diverted or cancelled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point. In response to the situation, the airport urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and verify their flight status before arriving at the venue.

Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways made the decision to cancel multiple flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into the following day, Monday. The Houthi attacks on Thursday and earlier in the week had already led several airlines to suspend or cancel services to the Saudi capital, a move that occurred shortly before Riyadh was set to host significant energy and investment conferences.

Conference organizers, however, remained undeterred by the recent attacks and assured attendees that the events would proceed as scheduled. They also sought to reassure participants about the security measures in place. Despite the ongoing threats, the Houthis have declared that they consider Saudi airspace a military operations zone following the Saudi-backed Yemeni government's offensive against the group earlier this month.