Qatar intercepting civilian flights: UAE

Dubai [UAE], Jan 16 (ANI): The United Arab Emirates on Monday claimed that Qatari fighter jets had twice intercepted civilian passenger planes en route to Bahrain in a "clear violation of international law."

"Qatari fighter jets intercepted an Emirati civilian aircraft during a routine flight to Manama in a flagrant threat to civil aviation safety and in a clear violation of international law," the General Civil Aviation Authority Director said in a statement published by the state news agency WAM.

The local media reports quoted the UAE GCAA Director-General Saif Al-Suwaidi, as saying, "Two commercial airliners that were intercepted by Qatari fighter jets were regular and scheduled flights with a well-known track, which meet the necessary approvals and internationally recognised permits."

He said incidents of sudden interception of a civil aircraft by a fighter jet could threaten the safety of the passengers and crew.

"The two planes arrived safely to Bahrain and returned to the UAE," Al-Suwaidi confirmed.

Earlier on Monday, Qatar denied its fighter jets intercepted the passenger planes of UAE.

Qatar's foreign ministry released a statement, saying the UAE's claim was false.

"The State of #Qatar announces that the claims of Qatari fighter-planes intercepting a UAE civil aircraft are completely false. A detailed statement will follow," Lolwah Rashid Alkhater, Spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on Twitter.

The incident has come at a time when Qatar, since mid-2017, has been facing a diplomatic and economic blockade by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, over accusations of supporting "terrorism".(ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI