Hyderabad IT Engineer Killed in Riyadh Airport Missile Strike
A tragic missile strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has claimed the life of a Hyderabad IT engineer, leaving a family devastated and several others injured. Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a 46-year-old professional from Mehdipatnam, succumbed to his injuries following a Houthi missile attack on October 10, 2026.
Mr. Ali had been working in Riyadh for nearly a decade. At the time of the incident, he was at the airport with his family, preparing to depart for a religious pilgrimage to Madinah. The group included his wife, Sameera, his sons Aman (18) and Wasi (16), his daughter Maryam (11), and an aunt.
Tragedy at the Check-in Kiosk
The attack occurred at approximately 3 p.m. local time when a projectile struck the terminal near a check-in kiosk. The impact caused immediate chaos and fatal injuries to Mr. Ali, who passed away in a hospital the following day.
The violence also took a heavy toll on his family members. While receiving treatment at Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital, his son Aman had to undergo knee surgery, and his son Wasi suffered the traumatic loss of three toes due to the injuries sustained during the strike.
Widespread Casualties and Diplomatic Response
Saudi authorities confirmed that the missile strike resulted in a total of 13 deaths. The victims represented a diverse range of nationalities, including citizens from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh. Over 300 people were wounded in the attack, including at least 11 Indian nationals.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been actively monitoring the situation. Officials confirmed that among the Indian victims, three remain in stable condition in the ICU, two are in general wards, and others have been discharged.
India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and pledged full government support. Ambassador Vipul and other embassy officials attended Mr. Ali's funeral at Masjid Al Rajhi between October 12 and 13 to assist with the necessary formalities. A ghayabana Namaz-e-Janazah is expected to be held in his hometown of Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.
Escalating Regional Tensions and Maritime Attacks
The airport strike coincided with a series of other maritime incidents in the region:
- Sohar Anchorage, Oman: On October 11, the Nicaragua-flagged tanker MT Petro Dolphin was struck by a drone. While the Omani Coast Guard rescued nine of the 11 Indian seafarers on board, two crew members—Bir Bahadur Yadav and Amit Singh—remain missing.
- Strait of Hormuz: The vessel M/T Valthera was also hit in the Strait of Hormuz, though fortunately, all Indian crew members on that vessel remained unharmed.
The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly condemned these attacks, describing the targeting of civilian infrastructure and commercial shipping as unacceptable. The Ministry expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia during this period of heightened regional instability.