Black Smoke, Flames Reported Near Riyadh Airport Amid Flight Disruptions
Flames and thick black smoke were seen near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport amid heightened security concerns. The cause remained unknown.
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Riyadh: Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames and a massive plume of black smoke rising near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, as the Saudi capital faced heightened security concerns. According to Reuters, the cause of the fire was unknown at the time, and Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the incident.
The incident caused severe interruption in air movement at the airport. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported issues with cancelled and delayed flights, with live data indicating many cancellations and delays at Riyadh Airport.
The incidents came after Saudi Arabia issued an emergency alert warning of a ‘hostile aerial threat’ throughout the country, including Riyadh. At least one explosion was heard in the city, but police originally reported no injuries or damage following the alerts.
News reports later published images of smoke rising from a gasoline storage tank at King Khalid International Airport, claiming it as the result of Houthi strikes.
The latest developments come amid a surge in strikes by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement, which has previously struck Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. Saudi authorities have yet to provide a comprehensive report of the incident or clarify the degree of damage to the airport.
