UAE submits complaint at UN over Qatar’s flight interceptions

The UAE has lodged a complaint with the United Nations against Qatar after its fighter jets intercepted two Emirati civilian aircraft on routine flights to Bahrain.

On Monday, the head of the Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority, Saif Al Suweidi, said the first UAE civilian aircraft, identified as an Emirates flight, was intercepted at 10.30am and the second at 11am.

Both planes landed safely in the Bahraini capital and were able to complete their return flights without incident. Qatar has denied the claims.

The complaint was submitted to the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly

The complaint was in the form of a note submitted to both the UN Security Council president and the UN General Assembly president.

It said the interception was a threat to safety of the civil flights and a breach of the rules of international law, reported Wam.

The UAE had on Wednesday hosted a meeting with ambassadors from UN Security Council member countries.

The complaint comes about a week after Doha accused Emirati fighter jets of violating Qatari airspace.

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, have imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar since last June, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

The UAE has banned Qatari aircraft from using its airspace as part of the restrictions imposed since June. Qatar has not reciprocated.