Air India and IndiGo halt Riyadh flights after Houthi missile threat

Air India and IndiGo cancelled and diverted multiple flights to Saudi Arabia’s capital after Iran‑aligned Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Riyadh International Airport on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Air India’s Delhi‑Riyadh service AI2243 turned back to Delhi and was subsequently cancelled, with the airline offering full refunds and suspending all flights to and from Riyadh until October 10. Air India Express also halted its Riyadh operations until the same date. An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Riyadh was rerouted to Dammam; the carrier later cancelled Riyadh‑Delhi flights for Thursday and Friday and also scrapped Riyadh‑Hyderabad and Riyadh‑Mumbai services scheduled for Friday. IndiGo noted that the Hyderabad‑Riyadh diversion left travelers without a direct Riyadh link and urged them to contact the airline for rebooking. Both airlines said they are closely monitoring the evolving regional situation. IndiGo sources said the security situation remains “still evolving” and warned passengers to verify flight status before heading to the airport. Air India evacuated its crew from Riyadh to Dammam by road, while Air India Express crews were instructed to remain on the ground. The disruptions affected travel between India and the Saudi capital, with refunds promised to all affected passengers. ## Context The Houthi group, aligned with Iran, has periodically targeted Saudi infrastructure, prompting airlines to pre‑emptively suspend routes for passenger safety. Such cancellations are common when missile threats are reported near major airports.