Aif Al Thani, a Qatari government spokesman, denied the UAE's claim on Twitter, calling it "completely untrue." He promised a detailed statement would come later Monday.
تعلن دولة قطر أنّ ما صدر من أخبار متعلقة باعتراض مقاتلات قطرية لطائرة مدنية إماراتية هو خبر عارٍ عن الصحة تماماً وسيصدر في ذلك بيان مفصَّل.
— سيف بن أحمد آل ثاني (@saifaalthani) January 15, 2018
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Earlier in the day, UAE's state-run news agency WAM has cited the UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation as saying that jet intecepted civil liner.
"Qatari fighter jets intercept an Emirati civilian aircraft during a routine flight to Manama in a flagrant threat to civil aviation safety and in a clear violation of international law," the UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation said.
According to the state-run news agency WAM, Qatar has filed two complaints with the United Nations about Emirati military aircraft allegedly violating its international airspace. The UAE called Doha actions "a flagrant violation of international agreements" and stated that they would "take all necessary legislative measures to ensure the safety of air traffic."
There are four UAE airlines that operate flights to nearby Bahrain — Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia.
In the summer of 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt declared a break in diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism and interfering in their internal affairs. This was followed by economic sanctions and the transport blockade of the emirate. Countries closed their airspace to Qatari planes.
