Two Saudi helicopter crew killed as Riyadh tower orders remote work

Summary

A Saudi helicopter crash in Najran killed two crew members, according to the Saudi-led coalition, which blamed a technical fault; the Houthis said they shot down a Saudi Apache. Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre ordered office staff to work remotely until further notice, Middle East Eye reports. This follows earlier reports that Saudi authorities extended the suspension of flights at Riyadh airport after Houthi attacks.

Timeline

1. South China Morning Post

   18 Oct 2026, 11:22 UTCSource ↗

   The South China Morning Post reports that Kingdom Centre ordered office tenants to work remotely until further notice and that the Saudi-led coalition said two pilots were killed in a crash near the Yemen border.

2. Middle East Eye

   18 Oct 2026, 13:21 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that the coalition blamed a technical fault for a helicopter crash in Najran that killed both crew members, while the Houthis said they had shot down a Saudi Apache; it also reports Kingdom Centre ordered office staff to work remotely.

3. Middle East Eye

   18 Oct 2026, 15:54 UTCSource ↗

   In a live-blog update, Middle East Eye reports the coalition said an AH-6i helicopter crashed because of a technical fault, while the Houthis claimed they shot down a Saudi Apache; it also reports Kingdom Centre ordered staff to work remotely.