UAE says Qatari jets intercepted two commercial flights

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — The United Arab Emirates said on Monday Qatari air force planes had intercepted two civilian aircraft en route to Bahrain, however Qatar denies the allegations.

The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, imposed travel, diplomatic and trade restrictions on Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of funding terrorism, Reuters reported.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said two Emirati airliners carrying 277 passengers were met by Qatari fighter jets while flying between UAE and Bahrain.

One of the flights was intercepted at 10:30 a.m., and the second at 11:05 a.m. at between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. The report did not say when the incidents occurred.

The UAE described the event as "a serious and renewed breach of international conventions and the safety of civil aircraft traffic."
Qatar's foreign ministry claims that UAE fighter jets violated its airspace on Dec. 21 and Jan. 3. UAE has denied the claim.