A family trip for Umrah has ended in tragedy for a Hyderabad household. Mohammed Yusuf Ali, a resident of Mehdipatnam, has died of injuries he suffered in Saturday's missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday. He was one of at least 11 Indians hurt in the strike, which Saudi authorities blamed on Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Three of the injured Indians remain in intensive care but are stable, the embassy said, as the Saudi capital's main airport stayed shut after being hit again on Sunday.
Who was Mohammed Yusuf Ali?
Yusuf Ali was travelling with his family on their way to Medina when the attack hit the airport on October 10. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who first shared the news on X and later said it had been confirmed after speaking to the embassy's Deputy Chief of Mission, said two of Yusuf Ali's sons and an aunt were also injured. One son underwent knee surgery, while the other lost three toes. The aunt suffered head injuries but is out of danger. His wife and daughter are reported to be safe.
"We are in touch with the family and will provide all support for ensuring the early repatriation of mortal remains," the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief over the death, offered condolences to the family and said the embassy would extend all possible assistance.
What happened at Riyadh airport
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said Saturday's attack killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, some critically. The dead included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign residents, among them two Bangladeshis and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Yusuf Ali died in hospital on Sunday, after that toll was first announced.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen called the strike a "full-fledged war crime" and said the airport has no military facilities. On Sunday, a projectile hit the airport again, striking a passenger terminal and starting a fire. It was the second attack on the airport within 24 hours and the third in a week. An earlier strike on Thursday had killed three Saudi citizens, including a pilot.
| Location | King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh |
| Main attack | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| Overall casualties (Saudi aviation authority) | 12 killed, 300+ injured |
| Indian killed | 1 – Mohammed Yusuf Ali, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad |
| Indians injured | At least 11 |
| Indians in ICU | 3, stable |
| Blamed on | Houthi rebels, Yemen |
| Indian helpline (PBSK, toll-free) | 8002471234 |
Condition of the injured Indians
According to the embassy, officials have visited every hospital where Indian nationals were admitted. Apart from the three in the ICU, two more are being treated in regular wards and the rest have been discharged. The mission thanked Saudi authorities for the medical care and said it would support the families in every way possible.
India condemns the strikes
The Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the repeated attacks on the airport, offered condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a quick recovery. It said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must stop immediately, and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Advisory for Indians in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest Indian communities abroad, and lakhs of Indians travel there every year for Umrah and Haj. The embassy has repeated its advice that Indian nationals should:
- Stay alert and vigilant, and remain indoors if needed.
- Follow instructions from local authorities issued through official channels.
- Avoid circulating or reposting videos and news about the attacks on social media.
- Call the 24-hour Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra toll-free number 8002471234 for help.
The embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate General in Jeddah and VFS visa services are working normally, and further advisories will be issued if needed.
Why the Saudi skies have become risky
The strikes follow a sharp escalation in Yemen. After the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive last week, the Houthis declared Saudi airspace a military operations zone and warned airlines, companies and travellers against using Saudi airports, except those serving Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia has responded with an air campaign in Yemen, and US President Donald Trump has said Washington is weighing whether to join it.
For Indian pilgrims and workers, the warning matters. Many Umrah travellers route through Riyadh, and families with relatives in the kingdom will be watching the airport's status closely.
What happens next
The immediate priority for the embassy is the repatriation of Yusuf Ali's body to Hyderabad and care for the injured. Travellers booked through Riyadh should check with their airline before leaving, as the airport's reopening depends on Saudi safety assessments. With the Houthis threatening more strikes, India is likely to keep its advisory in place for the coming days.
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