Published on : 23 Oct 2026
TRENDING: AN ATTACK ON KING FAHD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN DAMMAM ON WEDNESDAY EVENING KILLED TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED EIGHT. SAUDI AUTHORITIES SAY OPERATIONS HAVE RESUMED, BUT MAJOR AIRLINES ARE STILL SUSPENDING FLIGHTS TO DAMMAM AND RIYADH. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO CHECK BEFORE YOU FLY.
Published: October 23, 2026
King Fahd International Airport (DMM), Saudi Arabia’s main airport for the Eastern Province, was hit on the evening of Wednesday, October 21. On Thursday, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal. But many airlines were already suspending Saudi flights before the attack, and those suspensions have not been lifted.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| When | Evening of Wednesday October 21, 2026 |
| Toll (updated by GACA on Thursday) | Two killed: a Saudi citizen and an Indian resident. The first official count was one killed |
| Injured | Eight: one Saudi citizen, plus expatriates of Indian, Yemeni, Bangladeshi and Nepali nationality. Injuries range from minor to severe |
| Damage | GACA confirmed material damage. Assessment is ongoing with security agencies. It has not described the extent |
| Weapon | Not specified by GACA. Reports do not say whether it was a drone or missile |
| Diversions | Flights were diverted away from the airport during the attack (AP, citing Flightradar24) |
| Operations | GACA said on Thursday that operations resumed and air traffic returned to normal |
| Responsibility | Authorities had not named a suspect in their statements. The Houthis said on Thursday that they carried out numerous attacks on Saudi infrastructure over the previous 48 hours, naming King Fahd airport among the targets (Arab News) |
GACA’s statement said protecting civil aviation infrastructure is a priority and sent condolences to the families.
Note on figures: early reports gave one killed. If you see “one killed” elsewhere, it is out of date.
On Wednesday morning, Saudi air defences intercepted a drone aimed at a facility at Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield in the Eastern Province. Falling debris killed a Filipino and a Nepali worker and injured a Pakistani and an Indian resident. The energy ministry said operations were not affected. Reports do not link this to the airport deaths.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 10 | Attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport reportedly killed 12 and injured more than 300 (per GACA, via Arab News) |
| Oct 11 | A further strike on Riyadh airport reportedly killed one and injured 11 |
| Oct 18–19 | Riyadh airport reopens with prior-permission requirements, but airlines keep suspensions in place |
| Oct 21 | Dammam attack. Drones also reported intercepted over the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Madinah regions |
| Oct 22 | GACA says Dammam operations resumed. The US orders diplomats and family members to leave its missions in Saudi Arabia |
Full airline timeline: Saudi Arabia airline suspensions, Oct 22: full list.
Many of these suspensions predate the Dammam attack. We cannot say which were extended because of it.
| Airline | Dammam / Saudi status |
|---|---|
| Etihad | Abu Dhabi–Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah cancelled through Oct 24 |
| Qatar Airways | Dammam and Riyadh suspended through Oct 24. Jeddah cut from seven to four daily flights |
| flydubai | All eight listed Dubai–Dammam flights cancelled on Oct 22 |
| Emirates | Dubai–Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah cancelled. No end date given. Medina flights operating |
| Air India / Air India Express | Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah suspended through Oct 24 |
| IndiGo | Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah cancelled through Oct 24 |
| Akasa Air | Suspended through Oct 27 |
| KLM and SalamAir | Riyadh and Dammam cancelled through Oct 31 |
| Lufthansa Group | Dammam through Nov 30, Riyadh through Nov 18 |
| British Airways | Limited Riyadh return planned from Nov 3 |
| Delta | Atlanta–Riyadh launch postponed to March 2027 |
Riyadh: King Khalid International is open only to a limited number of domestic flights (Saudia and flynas, with prior approval). Most foreign airlines have not returned.
A reopened airport does not mean your flight is operating. Only your airline can confirm.
| Government | Advice |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, and against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border |
| United States | Advises reconsidering travel because of missile and drone threats. The State Department ordered non-essential and family members to leave US missions in Saudi Arabia, and the US Embassy in Riyadh warned of possible further Houthi attacks |
| Australia | Advises against all travel to Saudi Arabia, including for religious purposes. Smartraveller says reconsider the need to travel |
| Canada | Advises against non-essential travel, and against all travel to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport |
| FAA | Urges US operators to use caution in the Jeddah Flight Information Region through December 10, 2026 |
(Advice as reported on October 21–22. Check each government page for the current wording.)
| Situation | What generally applies |
|---|---|
| Airline cancels your flight | You can usually choose a refund or rerouting. Airlines are rebooking or refunding Saudi routes on their own terms |
| UK or EU rules (UK261/EU261) | Cover flights departing the UK or EU, and flights into the UK or EU on UK or EU airlines (e.g. BA, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France). A Gulf-carrier flight from Dubai or Doha to Dammam is not covered. Where covered, security events and airspace risk are extraordinary circumstances, so fixed compensation generally does not apply, but refund, rerouting and care do |
| US (DOT) | A full cash refund is available if the airline cancels or significantly changes a flight to, from or within the US and you choose not to travel |
| Canada (APPR) / Australia | APPR covers flights to, from and within Canada. Australian Consumer Law and the airline’s terms apply |
| Package holidays | The Package Travel Regulations 2018 apply to UK packages. Ask your organiser |
| Travel insurance | Many policies exclude war, terrorism or travel against government advice. If your government advises against travel, you may not be covered. Read your policy and call your insurer before booking or cancelling |
✓ Check your airline’s status for every leg, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi connections ✓ Read your government’s current Saudi Arabia advice before you decide to travel ✓ Check your travel insurance for war and advice-related exclusions ✓ Screenshot your booking and any cancellation notices ✓ Register with your embassy’s alert service (UK FCDO, US STEP, Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad, Australia’s Smartraveller) ✓ Allow extra time at any Saudi airport that is operating ✓ Keep your hotel or host in contact in case of last-minute changes
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
Lastest News
2nd Floor, 39, Above Kirti Club, DLF Industrial Area, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi 110015
Travel Tourister is a leading Travel portal where we introduce travellers to trusted travel agents to make their journey hasselfree, memorable And happy. Travel Tourister is a platform where travellers get Tour packages ,Hotel packages deals through trusted travel companies And hoteliers who are working with us across the world. We always try to find new and more travel agents and hoteliers from every nook and corners across the world so that you could compare the deals with different travel agents and hoteliers and book your tour or hotel with the one you have chosen according to your taste and budget.
Copyright © Travel Tourister, India. All Rights Reserved
Call
Enquiry