The United Arab Emirates on Monday filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after reporting the Qatari fighter jets approached civilian flights last week. UAE claimed that the Qatari jets narrowly avoided a collision with UAE passenger flight over Bahrain.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said the incident took place at midday on Sunday and the captain of the flight with 86 passengers onboard had “to make a quick maneuver to avoid collision”.
“Qatari jets chased the UAE passenger plane and came close to it, less than 700 feet, leaving just seconds before collision…a very dangerous and unsafe approach which endangered the lives of passengers,” the authority said in a statement cited by news agency WAM.
The United Arab Emirates is among four Arab states that cut ties with Qatar in June, accusing Doha of ties to Islamists and Shiite Iran. Qatar denies the allegations.
A civil aviation dispute between the two Gulf States erupted earlier this year, with the UAE also filing a complaint with the ICAO in January.
However, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has denied the statement made by UAE who has been accusing Qatar of threatening air safety and security.
Following are the records of interception made by Qatari fighter jets:
April 22, 2018-UAE files a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organisation after Qatari fighter jets intercept a civilian plane
March 27, 2018 Qatar’s fighter jets approach two UAE-registered civilian aircraft in a dangerous manner
January 18, 2018 The UAE files a complaint with UN over Qatar’s interception of two passenger planes en route to Bahrain
January 15, 2018 Qatar’s military aircraft intercept two civilian UAE planes on their way to Bahrain
June 8, 2017 UAE airspace is closed to all air traffic coming from or going to the Qatari capital of Doha
June 6, 2017 Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai and Air Arabia suspend all flights to and from the Qatari capital of Doha
