Qatar accuses UAE of flying military plane into its airspace

Qatar has filed a complaint to the United Nations about an alleged violation of its airspace in December by an Emirati military aircraft, state news agency QNA reported on Friday.

The QNA report said Qatar's ambassador to the United Nations sent a message to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council regarding the alleged violation, which it said occurred on 21 December at 9:45am local time and lasted one minute.

"HE Sheikha Alia (Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani) confirmed that the UAE plane entered the airspace of the state of Qatar without prior knowledge or approval of the competent Qatari authorities," QNA quoted the ambassador as saying.

"She considered that the incident was a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar, as well as a flagrant violation of the provisions of international law, conventions, charters and international norms."

UAE officials were not immediately available to comment on the report.

The United Arab Emirates is one of four Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt that have imposed travel, diplomatic and trade sanctions on Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism.

Qatar has denied the charges.

In November, the World Trade Organisation agreed to hear Qatar's complaint against the United Arab Emirates over a five-month-old blockade that has triggered a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf. 

Qatar turned to the WTO in August, insisting it was the victim of an "illegal siege" perpetrated by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which have cut ties with Doha over its links to Iran and accusations that it supports extremists.

In the initial WTO filing, Qatar requested "consultations" with its rivals, a procedural move required by the Geneva-based organisation before a dispute settlement body panel can be set up.