Abu Dhabi: The UAE has taken all steps to avoid any potential risks to its air passengers following Monday’s provocative action by Qatar, in which two Qatari fighter jets intercepted two UAE civilian flights.
“We are taking all possible legal actions within the framework of international civil aviation agreements [and other legal instruments],” said Esmail Mohammad Al Blooshi, Assistant Director General, Aviation Safety Affairs sector, at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), at a press conference at GCAA headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
He said the GCAA has alerted the UAE airlines about the possible risks while flying near Qatari airspace and how to deal with such situations.
Al Blooshi said two UAE civilian aircraft – a big passenger jet and a helicopter – were intercepted by Qatari fighter jets on Monday in two separate incidents within the Bahrain’s Flight Information Region (FRI). The passenger jet was intercepted at 3.34pm and Qatari fighter jets chased the flight till 3.36pm.
The GCAA is still waiting for the details of the second incident involving the civilian helicopter, the official said.
Earlier, the UAE has stated that it will not change its civilian flight paths.
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Federal Civil Aviation Authority told Reuters: "We have no plans at the present time."
