Black Smoke Rises Near Riyadh Airport After Saudi Arabia Issues Danger Alert

Images emerging Saturday showed black smoke rising near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after authorities warned residents of a potential “danger.”

A large plume of black smoke was seen rising from the fuel storage area near the airport on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense agency said late Friday that the National Platform for Early Warning in Emergency Situations had issued an alert warning residents of a potential danger in Riyadh.

The agency later issued a follow-up message stating that “the danger has been lifted from the city of Riyadh.”

Reuters reported that one of its journalists in Riyadh heard loud booms in the area before authorities issued the all-clear.

Smoke was subsequently seen rising near King Khalid International Airport. Saudi authorities did not immediately provide details on the cause of the smoke or whether there were any casualties.

The warning in the Saudi capital came days after Saudi authorities said they had destroyed a Houthi drone that attempted to enter airspace near the city of Mecca.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have targeted Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran.