EU Aviation Agency Issues New Saudi Airspace Advisory Following Houthi Attacks

09:17 AM EDT, 10/09/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The European Union Aviation Safety Agency recommended that airlines refrain from operating within the Saudi Arabian airspace defined by the Jeddah FIR boundary after Houthi attacks in Riyadh escalated in late September and early October. The agency said Friday that recurrent missile and drone strikes showed a "greater focus on aviation infrastructure" and "create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft." It also asked flight operators to implement updated risk assessments and high-level contingency planning measures while monitoring airspace developments in the region. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation earlier confirmed two attacks targeting facilities and a Saudia aircraft at the King Khalid International Airport, resulting in three fatalities.