An Air Algérie passenger jet was blocked over the weekend on a runway in Belgium over a legal dispute between the Airline Company and Dutch aviation firm K’AIR BV.

The aircraft was grounded by Belgian authorities on Friday, sparking a diplomatic row between Algeria, Belgium and the Netherlands.

"Algeria's ambassadors to Holland and Belgium have been recalled for consultations," Algeria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

Algeria’s APS state news agency said the incident in Brussels was the result of a legal dispute between Air Algérie and K'AIR BV dating from July 2008, which could further harm the image of the Algerian national airline company.

The row is over a contract for the sale of ten out-of-service Air Algérie jets to the Dutch company.

The airline cancelled the sale unilaterally because of K'AIR BV alleged inability to finance the deal as agreed in the contract.

However, the International Court of Arbitration in March ruled in favour of the Dutch side in the affair.

In May, the Algerian company launched an appeal to overturn the court’s decision and claim a decision is pending.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)