Riyadh: Saudia pilot Captain Hamoud Ali Al Kalthami was killed in the attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, the Saudi airline said in a statement shared on its social media accounts.
Saudia said Captain Al Kalthami lost his life on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in the incident at the airport. The airline did not provide details on the exact circumstances leading to the his death. His designation with the airline is unclear at the moment.
The airline also said one of its aircraft was damaged while on the ground at the airport, adding that there were no passengers on board the aircraft.
Saudia expressed its condolences to Captain Al-Kalthami's family, loved ones and colleagues, and said it recognised his contributions throughout his career with the national flag carrier.
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said on Friday that three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.
In a statement on X, the General Authority of Civil Aviation said the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft belonging to Saudi state carrier Saudia.
The injuries ranged from minor to severe, and the attacks caused material damage, it said, adding that airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Thursday they had attacked the airport with two cruise missiles.
The latest confirmed casualties come after Saudi authorities said on Wednesday that three people were killed in earlier strikes this week on Riyadh airport and Abha airport in the southwest of the country.
&uuid=(email))