Airlines suspend Haiti flights after plane hit by gunfire
Several airlines have halted flights to Haiti following an incident in which a passenger plane from the US was struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince.
Spirit Airlines Flight 951, traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was rerouted to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely at Santiago Airport.
A flight attendant sustained minor injuries, but fortunately, no passengers were harmed in the attack, which marks the second such incident in three weeks involving aircraft flying over Haiti’s capital.
This event comes at a time when Haiti is grappling with escalating violence and armed gangs, as a new prime minister has taken office. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who assumed the role, emphasized his commitment to “restoring security” in the country, according to AFP news agency.
Despite the country’s “challenging circumstances,” he vowed to dedicate his energy, skills, and “patriotism to the national cause.”
A businessman with a background in education from Boston University, Fils-Aimé was appointed by the ruling council after the previous prime minister, Garry Conille, was removed from office just months into his tenure.
The Spirit Airlines flight had been scheduled to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport just before 12:00 (17:00 GMT) when it was hit.
Unverified video of the incident shared on social media appeared to show several bullet holes on the inside of the aircraft, where the crew sit during take-off and landing.
Spirit Airlines said that damage “consistent with gunfire” had been found when the plane was inspected at Santiago Airport. The aircraft was taken out of commission, Spirit added.
The airline said it had also suspended flights to Haiti “pending further evaluation”.
Two other US airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue, have also suspended flights to Haiti until at least Thursday.
The security situation further deteriorated in Haiti in recent months. In October, gang members opened fire at a UN helicopter, causing some airlines to temporarily cancel flights to the Caribbean nation.
A UN-backed policing mission, led by officers from Kenya, had begun in June in an attempt to wrest back control from gangs.
Spirit is a low-cost airline based in Florida which flies throughout the US, Caribbean and Latin America.
