Seven flights from Dhaka cancelled after Riyadh airport attack
The cancellations included a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to Riyadh, along with flights operated by Saudi airlines.
At least seven flights from Dhaka had been cancelled as of this afternoon (11 October) following the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, affecting 2,532 passengers, according to the latest update from flight management authorities.
Previously, authorities confirmed the cancellation of five flights from Dhaka by this morning following the closure.
The cancellations included a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to Riyadh, along with flights operated by Saudi airlines, reports Prothom Alo.
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According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the flights were cancelled because the airport remained closed. Biman had earlier announced the suspension of its night flights.
The cancelled flights included Saudia Airlines' SV 804, SV 805, SV 806 and SV 807, as well as RX 763 and RX 764. Biman's BG 339 flight from Dhaka to Riyadh was also cancelled.
In an emergency notice yesterday, Biman announced that all flights from King Khalid International Airport had been suspended.
As a result, departures of BG 339 and BG 340 on the Dhaka-Riyadh-Dhaka route were suspended until further notice. Passengers booked on these flights were advised not to go to the airport.
Biman said it was monitoring the situation and would formally communicate updates on flight status and revised schedules.
Meanwhile, US-Bangla Airlines flight BS 381 failed to reach its destination and landed elsewhere. The flight was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at 3:10pm yesterday but landed at 3:10am today instead.
According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, all flights bound for Riyadh had either been diverted or cancelled.
Reuters reported that the decision followed an explosion at the international airport in Riyadh yesterday.
Reuters also reported that airport authorities had instructed passengers to contact their airlines and check their flight status before heading to the airport.
The disruptions have caused inconvenience for passengers affected by cancellations and schedule changes.
Authorities have advised travellers to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates before leaving for the airport.
