Qatar jets intercept UAE planes to BIA

Abu Dhabi : Qatari air force jets twice intercepted two Emirati passenger planes en route to Bahrain International Airport (BIA) yesterday while on their regular daily routes, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said on Monday.

The GCAA said that both flights were in regular pre-scheduled services and they followed all standard procedures, including obtaining of necessary permissions to fly. 

Both the UAE planes were carrying a total of 277 passengers while preparing to land in Bahrain airport.

“The Qatari fighter jets intercepted the first plane at 10:30, while the second was intercepted at 11:05 while flying at 9,000 to 10,000 feet altitude in regular flights approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO,” said Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA. 

He added that Bahraini radars detected the Qatari jets as they intercepted the UAE civilian flights. 

“Moreover, the crews and passengers saw the incidents with their naked eyes, which proves that the interception posed a present and clear threat to the lives of innocent civilians,” he informed.

Al Suwaidi said that the Qatari side had neither shown prior objection to the use of the aircraft’s path nor issued a warning after the use of the path.

He described the act of Qatari fighter jets approaching the civilian UAE planes without warning as a flagrant violation of international laws, a threat to civil aviation safety, and a serious and unprecedented act of intimidation. 

 The GCAA said the second plane was intercepted “during its descent towards Bahrain International Airport”, adding that it was also on a routine pre-scheduled flight.  

The GCAA condemned the Qatari action as “a serious and renewed breach of international conventions and the safety of civil aircraft traffic”.

The GCAA is considering the available legal options with the International Civil Aviation Organization.