00:00Saudi Arabia is facing renewed security concerns after a loud blast was reported at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on
00:10Saturday, October 10th,
00:11prompting emergency vehicles to rush to the facility and travelers to be evacuated from parts of the airport.
00:18This major development comes amid ongoing months-long Iran-America military clash.
00:24According to Reuters, an eyewitness and people briefed on the matter said more than a dozen ambulances were seen heading
00:31towards the airport after the blast was heard.
00:34The incident comes amid escalating tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
00:42Other media reports also said the airport was evacuated and air traffic was halted following the reported attack, while residents
00:50described hearing explosions.
00:51However, Saudi government officials and the country's civil aviation authority had not immediately responded to requests for comment on Saturday's
01:00incident.
01:01The latest development follows earlier attacks on the airport this week.
01:06According to the reports provided, previous strikes left people dead and others wounded, while an aircraft was badly damaged.
01:13One report said three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in an earlier attack on Thursday, October 8th.
01:21The repeated incidents have raised concerns over the safety of air travel in the Saudi capital, particularly as the kingdom
01:28prepares to host major energy and investment gatherings.
01:31Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed flights heading to Riyadh had either been diverted or canceled.
01:39At one point, only a helicopter was seen hovering over the airport, according to the tracking data cited by Reuters.
01:46Airport authorities urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before traveling to the facility.
01:54Several international airlines have already adjusted their schedules.
01:59Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways canceled multiple flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday.
02:08Other carriers had also suspended or canceled services following earlier attacks.
02:13The disruption comes at a particularly significant time for Riyadh, which is due to host major energy and investment gatherings.
02:21Despite the security concerns, organizers said on Saturday that the conferences would go ahead as planned.
02:28They also sought to reassure attendees about security arrangements.
02:32Meanwhile, the Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations.
02:40Their warning follows an offensive launched earlier this month by Yemen's Saudi-backed government against the group.
02:46The situation highlights the growing risks facing civilian aviation as regional hostilities intensify.
02:53For now, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Saturday's reported blast, the extent of any damage, and whether further flight
03:02disruptions will follow.
03:04Passengers traveling to or through Riyadh are being advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates as
03:11the situation develops.
03:18Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update.
03:23Download the OneIndia app now.
03:26Download the OneIndia app now.
03:26.
03:27.
03:28.
03:28.
