Commonground
Senior Moderator
STATUS: ACTIVE
CZIB number. CZIB-2026-09-R1
Issue date 30/09/2026
Revision date. 09/10/2026
Revision description
09/10/2026 – The description part was updated and recommendations have been revised to reflect the change in the risk area. Valid until 16/11/2026, unless reviewed earlier.
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Description
This CZIB is issued based on information currently available to EASA, the European Commission and EU Member States in order to share information which is considered necessary to ensure the safety of flights over zones of interest and indicate areas of high risk.
As a consequence of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with significant kinetic military activity affecting Saudi airspace.
In September 2026, the Houthis have significantly increased the frequency and geographic scope of attacks against Saudi maritime, energy and infrastructure targets, including in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden. Besides oil and energy infrastructures, also military and aviation-related infrastructures across Saudi Arabia have been repeatedly targeted by missiles and drones.
While the southern and south-western parts of Saudi airspace remain particularly exposed due to their proximity to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, recent attacks have demonstrated the ability and intent of the Houthis to strike targets deeper inside Saudi territory, including in the Riyadh, Tabuk, Medina and Yanbu areas.
Within this broader escalation observed in late September and early October, repeated missile and drone attacks targeted the Riyadh area, including its airport. During this period, attacks also showed a greater focus on aviation infrastructure than previously, increasing risks to aircraft on the ground and during take-off and landing in the affected areas.
These recurrent missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air-defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft, as well as risks associated with missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris.
The expansion of kinetic activity in September 2026 across a wider part of the Kingdom also increases the potential exposure of civil aviation beyond the areas previously affected by Houthi attacks requiring operators to conduct close monitoring and contingency planning.
While Saudi Arabia has demonstrated an ability to manage its airspace effectively, including through tactical deconfliction and Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) measures, the operating environment remains vulnerable to rapid deterioration due to external risks beyond the control of the national authorities.
EASA, together with the Commission and Member States, will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
Recommendation(s)
Air operators should:
Continued: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/air-operations/czibs/czib-2026-09-r1
CZIB number. CZIB-2026-09-R1
Issue date 30/09/2026
Revision date. 09/10/2026
Revision description
09/10/2026 – The description part was updated and recommendations have been revised to reflect the change in the risk area. Valid until 16/11/2026, unless reviewed earlier.
-snip-
Description
This CZIB is issued based on information currently available to EASA, the European Commission and EU Member States in order to share information which is considered necessary to ensure the safety of flights over zones of interest and indicate areas of high risk.
As a consequence of the military conflict between the United States and Iran, the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with significant kinetic military activity affecting Saudi airspace.
In September 2026, the Houthis have significantly increased the frequency and geographic scope of attacks against Saudi maritime, energy and infrastructure targets, including in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aden. Besides oil and energy infrastructures, also military and aviation-related infrastructures across Saudi Arabia have been repeatedly targeted by missiles and drones.
While the southern and south-western parts of Saudi airspace remain particularly exposed due to their proximity to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, recent attacks have demonstrated the ability and intent of the Houthis to strike targets deeper inside Saudi territory, including in the Riyadh, Tabuk, Medina and Yanbu areas.
Within this broader escalation observed in late September and early October, repeated missile and drone attacks targeted the Riyadh area, including its airport. During this period, attacks also showed a greater focus on aviation infrastructure than previously, increasing risks to aircraft on the ground and during take-off and landing in the affected areas.
These recurrent missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air-defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft, as well as risks associated with missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris.
The expansion of kinetic activity in September 2026 across a wider part of the Kingdom also increases the potential exposure of civil aviation beyond the areas previously affected by Houthi attacks requiring operators to conduct close monitoring and contingency planning.
While Saudi Arabia has demonstrated an ability to manage its airspace effectively, including through tactical deconfliction and Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) measures, the operating environment remains vulnerable to rapid deterioration due to external risks beyond the control of the national authorities.
EASA, together with the Commission and Member States, will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
Recommendation(s)
Air operators should:
Continued: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/air-operations/czibs/czib-2026-09-r1