Riyadh Airport Closure Extended Through October 17

Saudi aviation authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh through October 17 after two attacks over the weekend killed and injured people and disrupted flights. A Notice to Airmen set the suspension to run until 2100 UTC that day, while the General Authority of Civil Aviation said the extension would allow safety and operational-readiness checks. Saudi civil aviation authorities reported that Saturday’s attack killed 13 people and injured 309. A separate Sunday attack killed one person and injured 11, according to the authorities. The Saturday toll differs among reports, which gave figures including 12 deaths and 309 injuries and 13 deaths with 208 injuries. The available information does not establish whether the totals reflect different reporting times or scopes. The attacks struck the airport, a major travel hub for Riyadh, and prompted flight cancellations and diversions. Air India and IndiGo suspended Riyadh services through October 15, subject to review, according to their announcements reported Monday. Other carriers also adjusted schedules.