The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
‘Just want to speak to him’: Palakkad family awaits news of son injured in Riyadh airport attack
Rabbani, 29, had travelled to Saudi Arabia in search of work, two years ago, taking up a job as a technician at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh.
A 29-year-old technician from Alathur in Palakkad, Mohammad Rabbani, was injured in the October 10 missile-and-drone attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, where he had been working for about two years.
Rabbani underwent multiple surgeries and has remained in hospital care in Riyadh, with his condition described as improved after several days in critical care and off ventilator support, though doctors have not allowed direct contact or video calls with him.
From Palakkad, Rabbani’s family has been receiving updates from his employer, the company manager, and the Indian Embassy, but they have not been able to speak to him or hear his voice since the incident.
The family’s immediate concern centers on his recovery and the possibility of communicating with him directly, as they await news about his ability to return home and whether he can speak to them again.
Rabbani had left India two years ago for work, with tickets indicating a planned return on October 23; his parents, who are daily wage earners, face travel and financial hurdles if they were to attempt to visit Riyadh for updates.
The attack at the airport caused structural damage and casualties, and the incident has heightened anxiety among Indian workers in the region, with the Indian Embassy issuing safety advisories while families wait for word about their relatives.