Indian Expat Killed in Houthi Strike at Dammam Airport
Indian expat Kamlesh Pandey was killed in a Houthi-claimed attack on Dammam's King Fahd International Airport, amid rising regional tensions.
A tragic missile or drone attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has claimed the life of an Indian expatriate working in the region.
Kamlesh Pandey, a 36-year-old from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, was killed on the night of October 21, 2026. Pandey, who was employed as a pushback operator, was operating a tug tractor when the facility was struck in an attack claimed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Casualties and Injuries at the Airport
The strike resulted in two fatalities. In addition to Pandey, a Saudi airport worker identified as Sultan Al-Qahtani died from smoke inhalation while attempting to extinguish fires caused by the explosion.
The attack also left eight other individuals injured, including two Indian nationals. One of the injured Indians was discharged from medical care on October 22, while the second was expected to be released shortly thereafter.
Repatriation Delays Amid Flight Suspensions
While the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is currently assisting with the repatriation of Pandey's mortal remains, the process has faced significant delays. Air India and IndiGo have suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah until at least early November, complicating the logistics of returning his body to India.
A Growing Pattern of Regional Instability
This incident is part of a broader Houthi campaign targeting Saudi defense sites, oil fields such as Shaybah, and other critical infrastructure. It follows a similar strike on October 10 at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which killed 46-year-old Hyderabad-based IT professional Mohammed Yousuf Ali and injured his family.
The current security situation in the region remains volatile:
- Four Indians remain hospitalized following the previous Riyadh strike, with two currently in the intensive care unit.
- Maritime instability has been reported in Oman, where sailors went missing from the MT Petro Dolphin.
- Since February, approximately 300,000 Indian expatriates have departed the conflict zone.
The Indian government has formally condemned the attacks, affirming its support for Saudi sovereignty, while the Indian Embassy continues to provide essential support and advisories to the diaspora living in the Gulf.