Air India, IndiGo cancel and divert Riyadh flights after missile threat

Air India Group and IndiGo on Thursday (October 8, 2026) cancelled and diverted several services to Riyadh as carriers monitored an evolving regional situation, disrupting travel between India and the Saudi capital. The disruption comes after Iran-aligned Houthi rebels attacked Saudi Arabia, with a missile fired towards Riyadh International Airport.

Air India said its flight AI2243, operating from Delhi to Riyadh, returned to Delhi on Thursday in the interest of passenger and crew safety. The service was subsequently cancelled, with full refunds offered to passengers.

The airline also announced that it was cancelling all flights to and from Riyadh until October 10, citing the developing situation in the region. Passengers affected by the cancellations will be offered full refunds, the airline said, adding that it was closely monitoring developments.

Air India Express separately announced that it had cancelled its Riyadh services until October 10.

An IndiGo flight from Hyderabad to Riyadh was diverted to Dammam on Thursday. The airline did not provide further details on the diversion.

Air India is learnt to have evacuated its crew from Riyadh to Dammam via road, while Air India Express crew have been told to stay put.

IndiGo also cancelled Riyadh–Delhi flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday, according to airline sources. Services between Riyadh and Hyderabad, as well as Riyadh and Mumbai, have been cancelled for Friday.

IndiGo sources described the situation as “still evolving”, indicating that further changes to schedules may follow. Airlines advised passengers booked on Riyadh routes to check the latest status of their flights before travelling to the airport or making onward connections there.