Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Qatar denies detaining Iranian pilots, says remains of one found
Some airplane pilots from a country called Iran flew into the sky above another country, Qatar, without permission earlier this year.
Qatar tried to talk to the pilots, but they did not answer.
People from Iran said Qatar caught the pilots and was keeping them locked up.
Qatar said that is not true and that it is not holding any pilots.
Qatar said its rescue teams looked for the pilots and did their job the best they could.
The rescue teams found the body of one pilot and told Iran they could take it back.
The body of that pilot, Majid Kazemi, was buried in the city of Shiraz in Iran in late July.
Qatar also invited Iranian experts to come and learn about the search, but the experts have not come yet.
The two countries do not agree about what happened to the pilots.
The news came out on Saturday, August 15.
Qatar categorically denied detaining any Iranian pilots, calling the claims misleading amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
Iranian armed forces commander Mohammad Bagherzadeh claimed three pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces after their Su-24 jets were shot down during a March mission against a US base in Qatar.
Qatar said the pilots violated its airspace and failed to respond to attempts to contact them before necessary measures were taken to defend its territory.
Qatar's search and rescue teams found the remains of one pilot, Majid Kazemi, which were returned to Iran and buried in Shiraz in late July.
Qatar invited an Iranian team in April to be briefed on the search and rescue operations, but the Iranian side has yet to respond.
- Who
- Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari, Iranian General Mohammad Bagherzadeh, and the three Iranian pilots involved in the incident.
- What
- Qatar denied detaining the Iranian pilots and said it found the remains of one, contradicting Iran's claim that three pilots were captured alive and held for six months.
- When
- Reported on Saturday, August 15; the incident occurred in March, Qatar's invitation to Iran was issued in April, and one pilot's remains were buried in late July.
- Where
- Qatar, involving Qatari airspace and a US base in Qatar, with coordination with Iran; the remains were buried in Shiraz, Iran.
- Why
- Iran says the pilots were captured alive after their Su-24 jets were shot down during a mission against a US base in Qatar, while Qatar says they violated its airspace and failed to respond to contact attempts.
Iran's Position
Qatar's Position
Detention of the pilots
Iran's Position
General Mohammad Bagherzadeh said three pilots were captured alive by Qatari forces and held for about six months, with no contact allowed with their families, each other, or Iranian officials.
Qatar's Position
Qatar categorically denied holding any Iranian pilots and said it was surprised by what it called misleading statements amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions.
Fate of the pilots
Iran's Position
Iran said the three pilots are alive and in Qatari custody and called for their release; an Iranian military commander said a fourth pilot was killed.
Qatar's Position
Qatar said its search and rescue teams carried out their duties to the fullest, found the remains of one pilot, and contacted Iran to coordinate the handover.
Circumstances of the incident
Iran's Position
Iran says the pilots' Su-24 jets were shot down when returning from a military mission against a US base in Qatar in March.
Qatar's Position
Qatar says the pilots violated its airspace, the targeting trajectory was confirmed, and after failed attempts to communicate, necessary measures were taken to defend its territory in accordance with international law.
- Source
- Reuters, The Indian Express, Xinhua
- Date of Report
- Saturday, August 15
- Qatar's Position
- Categorically denies detaining any Iranian pilots
- Iran's Claim
- Three pilots captured alive and held by Qatari forces for six months
- Pilots Identified by Iran
- Javad Salehi, Abdol-Majid Dashtian, Emran Behrushian
- Incident
- Pilots violated Qatari airspace in March and failed to respond to contact
- Search Outcome
- Remains of one pilot found; Majid Kazemi buried in Shiraz in late July
- Invitation
- Qatar invited an Iranian team in April; Iran has yet to respond
Sources
Qatar denies detaining Iranian pilots, says it found remains of one
Qatar denies detaining Iranian pilots, says it found remains of one
Qatar Denies Detaining Three Iranian Pilots, Dubs Reports As 'Misleading'
World news updates: Qatar denies detaining Iranian pilots, says it found remains of one
