Riyadh: Three people, including a Saudia pilot, were killed in two attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, October 8, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed on Friday.

The first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck a Saudia aircraft parked at the airport, according to statements issued by the aviation authority and the national carrier.

Saudia pilot killed, aircraft damaged

Saudia confirmed that Captain Hamoud Ali AlKalthami, one of its pilots, was killed in the attacks. The airline expressed condolences to his family, relatives and colleagues, paying tribute to his service and contributions to the national carrier.

The airline also confirmed damage to one of its aircraft while it was on the ground at the airport. No passengers were on board at the time of the incident.

Several people injured

GACA said the attacks left several Saudi citizens and residents injured, with injuries ranging from minor to severe. The injured were transferred to hospital for medical treatment.

Emergency response teams and the relevant authorities responded immediately to both incidents in accordance with established emergency procedures and response plans, the authority said.

GACA said it was coordinating with security agencies to assess the damage and implement necessary measures to safeguard passengers and airport personnel and maintain the security of the Kingdom’s civil aviation system.

Airport operations return to normal

Airport operations resumed following the attacks, with air traffic returning to normal, according to GACA.

Saudia separately announced that its flights and operations at King Khalid International Airport had returned to normal by 6 pm on Thursday, October 8.

The airline said it would continue monitoring flight schedules and communicating updates to passengers through its official channels.