GCAA condemns interception over Bahrain air space
ABU DHABI 27 March 2018: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has condemned the reckless manner in which two Qatari fighter jets, dangerously approached two UAE-registered commercial airplanes, while flying over the Bahraini air space yesterday.
It called it a flagrant and serious threat to the civil aviation and air navigation safety.
The pilot of one airplane had to do emergency maneuvers to avoid colliding with the Qatari jets.
In a statement to Wam, the GCAA said it was not the first time that such “provocative” was carried out. Two similar acts were committed before and were reported to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“The GCAA condemns such irresponsible acts against civilian air traffic on regular, scheduled service on flight-path known to ICAO and reiterates the UAE right to take all necessary actions, granted by the international law,” it added.
A similar incident had occurred in mid-January this year. Qatar has French Rafale in its fighter jets fleet.