Qatar blocking flights to Mecca, Saudi Arabia claims

Qatar blocking flights to Mecca, Saudi Arabia claims

The flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines claims one of its airliners has been prevented from touching down at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Qatar denies having banned Saudi flights from landing in the emirate to take pilgrims to the annual Hajj in the kingdom.

The flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines claimed on Sunday that one of its airliners had been prevented from touching down at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

An official source in the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority on Monday dismissed the claim as "baseless," the state-run QNA news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia earlier claimed that Qatar is stopping its planes from landing in Doha to take pilgrims to Mecca.

Last week, Riyadh announced that it would open its borders with Qatar to allow Muslim pilgrims' access to Mecca to observe their Hajj rituals.

At the time Qatar hailed the move, but stressed that it was politically motivated and voiced concerns about the safety of its citizens in Saudi Arabia during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates cut their diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism. Doha rejects the claim.

 

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