QNA
Doha
Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has condemned the statement by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority, accusing Qatar of threatening air safety and security.
The QCAA reiterated that Qatar is committed to maintaining the highest standards of civil aviation safety and security.
In a statement, the QCAA said the UAE has unfortunately been manipulating the facts to inflame tension and mislead the international community. The latest statement is proof of this, it added.
"The reality is that the Qatari military aircraft was flying towards the north-east of Qatar on a mission known to the navigation services provider in Bahrain following the entry of a UAE military aircraft in the skies over Qatari waters without the prior permission of Qatar and in the itinerary close to the route of the UAE civil aircraft referred to in the statement of the UAE Civil Aviation Authority," it said.
The statement said this is not the first time that the UAE deliberately sent military aircraft to pass through the airspace in conjunction with the passage of UAE civil aircraft without permission from the relevant authorities in Qatar, despite repeated calls to the provider of navigation services in Bahrain to coordinate in this regard, which is an irresponsible act by the UAE and Bahrain.
The QCAA considered that a succession of fabricated complaints issued by the UAE Civil Aviation Authority and accompanied by media blitzkrieg are unsuccessful attempts to divert attention from numerous violations of Qatar airspace by military aircraft since the beginning of the Gulf crisis in June 2017, and to interfere with the complaints file of Qatar in ICAO organisation, which will be decided in the next two months.
It pointed out that the continued lack of professionalism, non-response and bias by the air navigation service provider in Bahrain - at a time when neutrality is supposed to be honoured since it is responsible for managing the navigation in this region ” is a cause for concern and deserves condemnation, especially as it is related to the application of international standards aimed at the security and safety of civilians.
The QCAA stressed that the UAE and Bahrain should deal with the aviation sector professionally, seriously and in a responsible manner without politicisation. The QCAA appeals to the authorities concerned in both the countries to refrain from playing politics at the cost of aviation safety.