Riyadh Air rushes three 787 Dreamliners out of missile-hit airport

Dhaka: Three Riyadh Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners were evacuated from Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (RUH) within 25 minutes of each other on October 13, as the airline pulled aircraft from its main base following a week of missile and drone strikes.

The wide-body jets, operating as RX8004, RX8001, and RX8002, departed at 3:16 pm, 3:32 pm, and 3:39 pm local time, respectively. Aircraft HZ-RXAA and HZ-RXAG flew to AlUla International Airport, while HZ-RXAC headed to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina.

A fourth Dreamliner, HZ-RXAE, was repositioned from Jeddah to Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport in Pakistan. Unconfirmed reports suggest fighter jets escorted three jets that departed from Riyadh, though neither Riyadh Air nor the Royal Saudi Air Force has verified this.

Riyadh Air operates eight 787 Dreamliners in total. The remaining four airframes are grounded in Jeddah: HZ-RXAB has been parked since October 10, HZ-RXAD and HZ-RXAF diverted there the same day, and training aircraft HZ-RXX has been based there since October 8.

Riyadh Airport has faced repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks over the past week and remains closed under a NOTAM until October 17. The first fatality at the airport was reported October 7, while an attack the following day killed three Saudi citizens, including a Saudia captain, and damaged one of the carrier's parked Airbus A320s beyond repair.

The most severe strike hit a passenger terminal on October 10, killing 13 people and injuring hundreds. The airport was struck again on Sunday, with additional missile attacks intercepted since.

With its home base under sustained threat, Riyadh Air has suspended flights across its entire network. Cancellations are listed through October 17, affecting all 15 of the carrier's destinations.

Passengers booked to travel through October 24 can rebook free of charge to another Riyadh Air flight within 21 days of their original date.