Riyadh woke up to grim news on two fronts on Wednesday. A second Indian national who was critically injured in the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport has died in hospital, taking the death toll from that attack to 14. On the same day, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it had fired a fresh ballistic missile at the same airport and warned international airlines to stay out of Saudi airspace.
The two developments show how the war across Yemen’s border is shaping travel in Saudi Arabia, and why it matters to Indian families working there.
Second Indian victim named as Shaikh Sayeed
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the latest death in a post on X on November 4. It said another Indian national, critically injured in the October 10 attack, had passed away in intensive care.
“With a heavy heart, we share that another Indian national, critically injured in the 10 October attack on Riyadh airport, has passed away in ICU,” the embassy said. “We have been by his family’s side throughout, and we remain with them now.”
The victim has been identified as Shaikh Sayeed, from Nizamabad district in Telangana. He had fought for his life for more than three weeks after the attack, and is survived by his wife and three children. The embassy said it would extend all possible assistance to bring his mortal remains home to India or to arrange a funeral in Riyadh, according to the family’s wishes.
Sayeed is the second Indian to die from the October 10 attack. The first was Mohammed Yousef Ali, from Hyderabad, whose funeral was held in Riyadh on October 12. Another Indian from Kerala remains in intensive care in stable condition.
Death toll now 14, with 309 injured in the October attack
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation had initially reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries from the October 10 attack. The toll rose to 13 after the first Indian death was confirmed, and has now reached 14 with Sayeed’s death.
The victims include four Saudi citizens and 10 foreign nationals: two Bangladeshis, two Indians, and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Saudi Arabia blamed Yemen’s Houthi rebels for the October 10 attack, though the group did not claim it at the time.
India had condemned the October attack on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Houthis claim fresh strike and warn airlines away
On the same day the embassy announced Sayeed’s death, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group’s forces had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport and hit their target directly, causing what he called significant damage.
In a statement on X, Saree declared the airport unsafe and renewed the group’s warning to international airlines, airport workers and travellers to avoid Saudi airspace, except over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The claim has not been independently verified, and there was no confirmation from Saudi authorities at the time of reporting.
That distinction matters: travellers should treat the fresh strike as a claim, not a confirmed hit. What is not in doubt is the warning itself, and the uncertainty it creates for airlines. A European Union Aviation Safety Agency advisory on Saudi airspace remains in effect, citing repeated missile and drone attacks in the Riyadh area, including at the airport.
Why this matters for travellers and Indians in Saudi Arabia
- Airports are in the firing line: King Khalid International Airport has now been linked to attacks and claims repeatedly since October.
- Civilian workers bear the risk: The October victims included airport staff and travellers, among them Indian workers supporting families back home.
- Airspace warnings affect routes: Airlines must weigh rerouting, delays and cancellations, even when no strike is confirmed.
- The conflict is widening: Cross-border hostilities have intensified in recent weeks, with Saudi airstrikes on Yemeni targets and Houthi missiles aimed at Saudi sites.
What happens next
Three questions will shape the coming days: whether Saudi authorities confirm or deny the fresh-strike claim, whether airlines adjust routes over Saudi airspace, and whether diplomacy can slow a cycle that has already claimed 14 lives at a single airport. For now, the story is measured in names, not just numbers. Sayeed’s family in Nizamabad now faces the painful choice between bringing him home and laying him to rest in Riyadh.
FAQs
Who was the second Indian to die after the Riyadh airport attack?
Shaikh Sayeed, from Nizamabad in Telangana, injured on October 10, who died in intensive care in Riyadh on November 4.
What is the death toll from the October 10 Riyadh airport attack now?
Fourteen. Saudi authorities initially reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries; it rose to 13, then 14.
What did the Houthis claim on November 4?
Yahya Saree claimed a missile directly hit the airport, causing significant damage, and warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace except over Mecca and Medina. It was unconfirmed by Saudi authorities.
Is it safe to fly to Riyadh right now?
An EU aviation advisory on Saudi airspace remains in effect. Check with your airline and follow embassy advisories.
What help is the Indian Embassy offering families?
The embassy will help bring mortal remains home or arrange a funeral in Riyadh, as per family wishes.
Sources: Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Reuters, Arab News, The Tribune, The Indian Express. The November 4 strike is reported as a Houthi claim, unconfirmed by Saudi authorities.
