The US Federal Aviation Administration has told American airlines to take care when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. In a notice issued Sunday in Washington, the agency pointed to safety threats linked to ongoing military activity and interference with navigation systems.
The advisory lasts until December 10 and follows two days of strikes on Riyadh’s international airport. A Saturday attack there killed 13 people and injured more than 300. Riyadh airport will stay closed to flights until at least 5 p.m. EDT on Monday.
Warning covers all altitudes and US-registered aircraft
The FAA said the threats could put aircraft at every altitude at risk, including during overflight and during arrival and departure. It described the situation as potentially hazardous. The warning also applies to operators of US-registered planes.
Delta’s planned Atlanta to Riyadh service
Delta Air Lines is set to begin direct flights from Atlanta to Riyadh on October 23. Delta had not responded to a request for comment. Its chief executive, Ed Bastian, told a business news network last week that safety would decide whether the airline goes ahead.
FedEx cargo flights and fresh Riyadh airport attack
FedEx launched its first dedicated Saudi Arabia flight in September 2025, using a Boeing 777 freighter that operates six times a week. The route links the Americas and Europe to Riyadh, with connections to Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Saudi authorities reported that a new attack on the airport Sunday evening killed one person and hurt nearly a dozen others. It followed a Saturday strike, claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, which killed 13 people and injured over 300 and was the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade.
