Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has barred an Iranian plane carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca from entering its airspace because the flight had not applied for a permit, aviation authorities said Thursday.
The plane was carrying 260 passengers heading to perform the lesser pilgrimage, but it was denied access to the kingdom`s airspace Wednesday afternoon "due to the lack of a permit" to fly to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom`s aviation authority said.
Tension between the two countries has intensified after Saudi Arabia launched last month an air campaign against Iran-linked Houthi Shiite rebels in Yemen.
"Such violations, whether committed by an Iranian airline or others, would not be allowed in Saudi airspace," said civil aviation spokesman Khaled al-Khaibari, in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.
He said airline operators should apply in advance for a permit to travel to the kingdom.
