{ "id": 8456039, "title": "Flames and smoke seen near Riyadh airport after warnings", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-and-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-after-warnings", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-09-19T12:12:03.000Z", "source": { "name": "RTE News", "slug": "rte-news", "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2026/0919/1592186-saudi-arabia-houthis/" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "A massive column of smoke and flames were visible near Riyadh's primary airport following booms heard overnight, prompting Saudi Arabia to issue alerts warning of potential danger in the capital and the city of Al-Kharj, east of Riyadh. The Saudi civil defense relayed the warnings by phone, before later declaring an all-clear. A Reuters journalist in Riyadh's Olaya area reported hearing booms prior to the all-clear. FlightRadar24's aircraft tracking website flagged significant disruptions at the Saudi capital's King Khalid International Airport, including cancellations and delays, assigning it a maximum disruption index of 5.0. Hours after the initial alert, residents recounted hearing what sounded like additional explosions echoing through parts of Riyadh. The Houthis, who have been launching attacks against Saudi Arabia since July in response to the US-Iran war, have targeted the Red Sea coast and vessels in recent days. Though previous alerts had been issued in Riyadh following the start of the conflict, these were the first since the Houthis escalated their attacks in July. The UN Security Council recently condemned the Houthis for their continued assaults on Saudi Arabia, including strikes on civilian and energy infrastructure that have caused civilian injuries.", "summary": "A large plume of smoke was visible near Riyadh's main airport after booms were heard and Saudi Arabia sent alerts overnight amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.", "key_points": [ "Massive smoke and flames seen near Riyadh airport after booms", "Saudi Arabia issues alerts warning of potential danger in Riyadh and Al-Kharj", "Houthis target Red Sea coast and vessels, first alerts since July" ], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 13, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "Middle East Eye", "title": "Large plume of black smoke seen near Riyadh airport, Reuters reports", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/large-plume-of-black-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-reuters-reports", "published": "2026-09-19T11:07:43.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Jerusalem Post", "title": "Flames, black smoke spotted near Riyadh airport, eyewitness reports", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-black-smoke-spotted-near-riyadh-airport-eyewitness-reports", "published": "2026-09-19T11:16:41.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Times of India", "title": "Flames, huge plume of black smoke seen near Riyadh airport amid Houthi strikes", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-huge-plume-of-black-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-amid-houthi", "published": "2026-09-19T11:25:02.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Al-Monitor", "title": "Black smoke, flames rising near Riyadh airport: residents to AFP", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/black-smoke-flames-rising-near-riyadh-airport-residents-to-afp", "published": "2026-09-19T11:30:18.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Flames, smoke seen near Saudi's Riyadh airport, several flights cancelled after 'major problems': Reports", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-smoke-seen-near-saudis-riyadh-airport-several-flights", "published": "2026-09-19T11:51:58.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Gulf News", "title": "'Major problems' at Riyadh airport, with flights cancelled, delayed: Flightradar24", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/major-problems-at-riyadh-airport-with-flights-cancelled-delayed", "published": "2026-09-19T11:56:21.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Malay Mail", "title": "Flightradar24: ’Major problems’ at Riyadh airport, with flights cancelled, delayed", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flightradar24-major-problems-at-riyadh-airport-with-flights-cancelled", "published": "2026-09-19T12:04:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Channel News Asia", "title": "Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport after Saudi warning of aerial attack threat", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-after-saudi-warning-of-aerial", "published": "2026-09-19T12:06:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "France 24", "title": "Smoke, flames seen near Riyadh airport, ‘major’ flight disruptions reported", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/smoke-flames-seen-near-riyadh-airport-major-flight-disruptions", "published": "2026-09-19T12:53:19.000Z" }, { "outlet": "SABC News", "title": "Flames and large plume of black smoke seen rising near Riyadh airport", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-and-large-plume-of-black-smoke-seen-rising-near-riyadh-airport", "published": "2026-09-19T13:25:31.000Z" }, { "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana", "title": "Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport after Saudi warning of aerial attack threat", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-after-saudi-warning-of-aerial-8470403", "published": "2026-09-19T13:33:14.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Business Recorder", "title": "Flames, smoke seen near Riyadh airport after Saudi warning of aerial attack threat", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/flames-smoke-seen-near-riyadh-airport-after-saudi-warning-of-aerial-8477676", "published": "2026-09-19T14:33:17.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }