The flight safety agency of the European Union (EU) expanded the geographical scope of the flight safety warning to European airline companies with the emergency code after the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen targeted the airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Cologne-based European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a new warning within the scope of the Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) regarding Saudi Arabia.
In the warning, it was stated that the Houthis have proven their intention and ability to strike deeper parts of Saudi Arabia with the recent attacks, and it was noted that the geographical scope of the flight safety warning to European airline companies was expanded with the emergency code. In this context, the country's northwestern airspace (including Tabuk and Medina) was added to the list of risky areas where flights should not be made.
In the warning, it was emphasized that the intensifying attacks on aviation infrastructures pose a great threat, especially when the aircraft are on the ground, during their take-off and landing, and it was also stated that intense missile mobility and active use of air defense systems pose a high risk due to misidentified and shot down civilian aircraft or falling debris pieces.
EASA stated that it will continue to closely monitor the risk situation for EU airline operators.
Following the recent attacks on Riyadh Airport, flight cancellations came from the aviation industry.
German Lufthansa Group and three major airline companies based in India announced that they have temporarily suspended all their flights planned to Riyadh in the coming days.
Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, which was attacked, was the second busiest airport in Saudi Arabia with an average of 813 flights per day.
QATAR AIRLINES ANNOUNCED THAT IT CANCELED SOME FLIGHTS BETWEEN DOHA AND RIYADH
Qatar Airways reported that some flights planned to be held between Doha and Riyadh on October 9-10 were canceled after the attacks carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis on the airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in which 3 people died.
In the statement made by the company, it was stated that these cancellations, which occurred due to operational reasons, included some of the mutual flights between 9 and 10 October.
In the statement, it was emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is the highest priority, and it was recommended to follow up-to-date information about flights on the company's website or mobile application.
ATTACKS ON SAUDI ARABIA
In the statement made by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia, it was stated that two attacks were carried out on King Khalid International Airport yesterday, and that the airport facility was targeted in the first attack and a plane belonging to Saudi Arabian Airlines was targeted in the second attack.
In the statement, it was stated that 3 Saudi Arabian citizens lost their lives and many people were injured in the attacks in question, and it was noted that the injured were Saudi Arabian citizens and people of different nationalities.
While the statement did not provide information about those responsible for the attack, local media reported that the attacks were carried out by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
While the conflicts between government forces and the Houthis have increased recently in Yemen, the Iranian-backed Houthis are targeting Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, claiming that they are being attacked.
Yemen is the scene of a civil war that started after the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa and some provinces in September 2014.
The Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been supporting the Yemeni government, which is recognized by the international community, since March 2015.
