Riyadh Airport will remain closed until October 17: inspections continue after Houthi attacks
Work is underway to ensure flight safety and inspect the infrastructure.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, will remain suspended until October 17 following Houthi attacks. Inspections continue at the airport as part of the country's government measures to ensure aviation security.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on October 12 that the suspension period of the airport's operations had been extended. The authority cited the need to inspect the safety of the airport infrastructure and ensure its readiness to resume operations.
According to a Reuters report, a NOTAM notice regarding flight safety states that the airport will remain closed until 21:00 on October 17. This corresponds to 02:00 Tashkent time on October 18.
Operations at the airport were suspended after the attack that occurred on October 10. According to Saudi officials, 13 people died and more than 300 were injured in that incident. On October 11, another unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 of the airport. In that incident, one person died and 11 were injured.
Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, emphasized that the response to attacks against the country would also be serious.
Yemen's Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia's airports and other facilities in recent days. The Saudi-led coalition has blamed the Houthis for the attacks on the airport. The movement, meanwhile, continues to strike targets in Saudi territory at a time when military confrontations in the region are escalating.
The suspension of the airport's operations has also affected international flights. A number of airlines have canceled flights to and from Riyadh.
