UAE FILES COMPLAINT AFTER QATARI JETS THREATEN CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT

▶ Second complaint filed to the International Civil Aviation Organisation over Qatari breaches to air safety this year

The UAE has lodged a complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organisation over an incident where Qatari fighter jets threatened two UAE-registered civilian aircraft last week.

The GCAA has submitted a complaint under article 54 of the Chicago Convention, state news agency Wam reported.

“These aggressive actions by Qatar against UAE civilian aircraft are considered deliberate violations of international covenants and conventions governing civil aviation, and are a threat to the safety of civil aviation,” said Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the General Civil Aviation Authority.

On Monday last week two Qatari jets came within 214 vertical metres of an Airbus airliner on a scheduled flight to Europe.

The jets approached it from the north and circled behind it over international waters, 33 kilometres from the Qatari coast – well outside border limits.

Also that day, Qatari aircraft approached a UAE-registered helicopter.

The actions put crew and passengers at risk, Mr Al Suwaidi said. “The UAE outright rejects these acts,” he said.

The GCAA filed an earlier complaint about the Qatari interception of two civilian aircraft on January 15.

Qatari fighter jets have approached UAE military aircraft on three separate occasions.

Brig Gen Helal Al Qubaisi reported that a UAE Twin Otter aircraft was approached on January 3, a C-130 cargo plane was approached January 12 and an F-16 was approached on December 27.

Gen Al Qubaisi condemned the manoeuvre as an aggressive act and said the UAE military was using alternative routes over Saudi Arabia.

Civilian aircraft had not changed their routes.

Aviation expert Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, said: “The complaints are indeed very serious.”

He said the international organisation had little mandate to enact forcible action on either party.

But Mr Ahmad said there was an urgent need to ensure there was no repeat of the incursions that had taken place in recent weeks.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Qatar in June last year over its support for extremism and interference in the internal affairs of other states.