Arab Emirates authorities said Qatari fighters intercepted two passenger aircraft heading for Bahrain.
Yesterday, January 15, the United Arab Emirates accused Qatar of “intercepting” two passenger planes bound for Bahrain.
Qatar denied allegations of interception of one of the aircraft, but did not provide comments on the second incident.
On Monday morning, the UAE National Civil Aviation Agency received a message from the national carrier that aircraft carrying out a regular flight to Manama were intercepted by Qatar fighters, the state news agency said in a statement. This is about Emirates Flight 837.
Authorities said it was "a flagrant and serious threat to the safety of civil aviation and a clear violation of international law."
Four emirate airlines - Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia - operate flights to Bahrain.
The Bahrain Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly condemned the interception by Qatar fighters of UAE aircraft. Interception is a gross violation of international conventions and laws issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Convention on International Civil Aviation, developed in 1944, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stresses Bahrain’s support for the UAE and all the measures they take to ensure their security and stability.
Recall that earlier in December 2017 and January 2018, Doha accused the UAE of invading fighters in the airspace of Qatar.
Tensions in the Gulf region escalated after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic relations and flights with Qatar last June, accusing Doha of supporting extremists. Qatar denies all allegations made.
