Three Saudi nationals were killed and several others wounded in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said Friday.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the first attack hit airport facilities, while the second targeted an aircraft belonging to national carrier Saudia.
“The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of (3) Saudi citizens,” GACA said in a statement, adding that Saudis and foreign residents of various nationalities suffered injuries ranging from minor to critical.
All of the wounded were rushed to hospital, it said.
The attacks also caused material damage, but GACA gave no further details on its extent.
Emergency teams responded immediately, GACA said, activating established emergency protocols and response plans.
Operations at the airport have since resumed and air traffic is back to normal, it added, saying it was working with the relevant agencies to assess the damage, check the safety of airport facilities and protect passengers and staff.
In a separate statement Friday, Saudia said one of its pilots, Captain Hamoud Ali al-Kalthami, was killed in the incident.
The airline paid tribute to his career with the carrier and offered condolences to his family, loved ones and colleagues.
Saudia said one of its aircraft was damaged on the ground at the airport, adding that there were no passengers on board at the time.
The attacks come amid mounting security tensions in the kingdom following a series of missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, including airports.
GACA said it would continue working with the relevant authorities to safeguard the security and safety of the kingdom’s civil aviation system.
