Amid Qatar Crisis, Empire State Lit In Airways’ Colors

Coming in middle of the crisis in Qatar, the Empire State Building raised eyebrows when its top lit up in burgundy and white Tuesday night in honor of Qatar Airways’ 10th anniversary of flying to the United States.

Qatar Airways is the state flag carrier of Qatar, a small energy-rich nation now at the center of a diplomatic crisis with other Arab nations over its alleged support for terror organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah. The dispute has seen countries cut diplomatic ties to Qatar, as well as block air travel routes.

Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in August bought a 9.9 percent stake in the company that owns the Empire State Building for $622 million.