Former Qatar ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani flies to Switzerland for treatment after breaking leg on holiday

Up to nine planes belonging to the royal family flew into Zurich between Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani arrives to attend the Gulf emirate's National Day celebrations in Doha on December 18, 2012. (AFP/Getty Images)

Qatari royals have travelled to Switzerland in a fleet of private jets after the country’s former ruler broke his leg on holiday.

The Swiss air force had to give up to nine planes emergency landing clearance between Christmas Day and Boxing Day as civil aviation staff were on holiday.

Aviation authorities confirmed the aircraft, said to include an Airbus, made a series of unscheduled landings at Zurich-Kloten airport starting at around midnight local time, violating local noise regulations.

They were believed to be carrying members of the Qatari royal family and officials visiting Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The 63-year-old seized power in 1995 and ruled for 18 years until he abdicated to hand power to his son, Tamim.

Qatari officials confirmed that Sheikh Hamad had broken his leg on holiday but did not say how or where the injury was sustained.

A statement from the government’s communications office said he was flown to Zurich for treatment on Saturday and was “recovering and undergoing physiotherapy” following an operation.

Plane tracking website FlightRadar24 reported several Qatari flights landing over the weekend first from Morocco and later from Qatar, raising speculation Sheikh Hamad might have suffered his injury at a resort in the Atlas Mountains where he and his family were reportedly skiing.

The state-run Qatar News Agency has yet to report on his injury and surgery but said Morocco's King Mohammed VI called Qatar's ruling emir on Sunday.

It came after the oil-rich state announced the suspension of a national health scheme where the government was paying for free treatment at private hospitals, transferring bills to insurance companies.

Additional reporting by AP