Following a Houthi-claimed ballistic missile attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a fresh travel and security advisory on Thursday, urging Indian nationals across the Kingdom to exercise heightened vigilance and remain indoors when necessary.
The advisory coincides with widespread flight disruptions, leading Indian air carriers—including Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air—to temporarily suspend operations to and from the Saudi capital until October 10.
Indian Embassy Urges Caution and Restraint
In its official safety communication, the Embassy of India in Riyadh asked citizens to strictly adhere to directives issued by Saudi civil defense and law enforcement authorities through official channels.
The Embassy specifically warned Indian expatriates against circulating unverified videos or news clips concerning the ongoing strikes:
”Indian nationals are strongly advised to refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to the ongoing events. Please rely solely on verified updates from official channels.”
Despite the security situation, the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah confirmed that consular operations and outsourced VFS visa services continue to function normally.
Commercial Aviation Severely Disrupted
The security escalation triggered immediate operational halts across major Indian carriers. Air India Express—which operates 16 weekly flights to Riyadh from Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Bengaluru—announced full flight cancellations through October 10.
A spokesperson for Air India Express confirmed customer relief measures:
”In view of the evolving situation in the region, we have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until 10 October. Affected guests are being offered complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancellation. We continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Parent airline Air India also grounded its direct daily services connecting Delhi and Mumbai to Riyadh after its Delhi-Riyadh flight (AI2243) was forced to turn back mid-air on Thursday. Akasa Air and IndiGo followed suit by cancelling their scheduled services to the region.
MEA Condemns Targeting of Civilian Infrastructure
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly condemned the Houthi rebel strikes targeting King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. Terming the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable,” India reaffirmed its solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and expressed condolences to the families affected by the attacks.
