Doha / Information Office / January 15

The State of Qatar declared that the allegations made by the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the United Arab Emirates regarding the interception of UAE civil aircrafts by Qatari fighter jets are totally baseless.

In a statement issued on Monday, HE Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Lolwah AlKhater said this allegation comes one day after a C-130 UAE military aircraft breached Qatari airspace at 3:10 pm (Doha local time), a violation for which the State of Qatar intends to take legal action.

It appears that the UAE Civil Aviation Authority is trying, through false allegations, to overshadow the news of a UAE military aircraft breaching Qatari airspace, she added.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson added that it also seems that the UAE is trying to draw attention away from other incidents that have caused media crises for them in the last two days.

This systematic attack, through the media, comes after the State of Qatar has delivered letters to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the United Nations Security Council regarding two breaches by two UAE military aircraft of the State of Qatar's airspace, she said.

HE AlKhater added that the first breach occurred on December 21, 2017 by a fighter jet belonging to the UAE, while the second took place on January 3, 2018 by a UAE military airlift.

The fabrication of news is not new in the UAE media's dealing with the State of Qatar since the beginning of the Gulf crisis, which started with the crime of hacking the website of Qatar News Agency in May 2017, the spokesperson said, adding that the State of Qatar affirms the Qatari Emiri Air Force's adherence to the highest standards of aviation safety and its firm position to ensure the safety of Qatar's civilians.