Riyadh Airport Attack: CCTV Captures the Moment, Indian Tourist Among 13 Killed

On the morning of October 10, a bright flash ripped through the bustling terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The sudden burst, later confirmed to be a Houthi‑claimed missile strike, sent travellers scrambling for cover, the kind of chaos you’d expect only in movies.

Al Arabiya released CCTV footage that shows the exact second the explosion hit. First, a blinding light fills the screen, then the camera shakes as the roof sections begin to buckle. Passengers – many of them Umrah pilgrims waiting to board flights to the holy cities – dash away from the crumbling ceiling, some clutching their luggage, others simply trying to protect their families.

The death toll rose to 13, with more than 300 people wounded, officials said. Among the dead was Mohammed Yusuf, a 46‑year‑old IT professional from Hyderabad. Yusuf had been standing near a check‑in kiosk with his wife and two young children, ready to travel to Medina for Umrah, when debris from the blast struck him. He later succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

His wife and kids survived the initial blast but were badly hurt; both children and his spouse were reported to be in critical condition. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia later confirmed that three Indian nationals remain in intensive care, while two others are in regular wards. The rest of the injured Indians have already been discharged.

Embassy officials visited the hospitals, thanked Saudi medical teams for their swift care, and promised all possible assistance to the families. India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attack as “completely unacceptable,” urging an immediate stop to strikes on civilian infrastructure and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Just a day after the first strike, Saudi authorities reported a second incident at the same airport. An unidentified projectile hit another part of the terminal, killing a Pakistani resident and wounding 11 more people. While the exact nature of that projectile is still under investigation, the pattern underscores a worrying escalation.

The Houthi movement in Yemen has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks on Saudi targets, warning airlines and travellers to avoid Saudi airspace – though they oddly exempted airports in Mecca and Medina. This latest wave has reignited fears over civilian safety and the broader stability of regional aviation.

As investigations continue, families on both sides of the border are left grappling with loss and uncertainty. The images from the airport serve as a stark reminder that, in conflicts far from home, ordinary people – pilgrims, tourists, workers – often bear the brunt.