Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Several airlines have suspended flights to Haiti following an incident in which Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale was struck by gunfire while attempting to land at Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
The flight, which was diverted to Santiago Airport in the Dominican Republic, landed safely. While a flight attendant sustained minor injuries, no passengers were harmed. This marks the second such attack in three weeks on aircraft approaching Haiti’s capital.
The shooting comes amid the ongoing security crisis in Haiti, which has been plagued by armed gangs and escalating violence. In response to the situation, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the newly appointed prime minister, stated that restoring security would be his top priority.
Fils-Aimé, who was selected by the ruling council after the previous leader, Garry Conille, was ousted, pledged to dedicate all his efforts to the country’s national cause, despite Haiti’s difficult circumstances.
Spirit Airlines confirmed that the plane was hit while approaching Port-au-Prince, and damage consistent with gunfire was found during an inspection in Santiago.
As a result, Spirit has grounded the aircraft and suspended flights to Haiti for further evaluation. American Airlines and JetBlue also paused their flights to Haiti until at least Thursday.
The security situation in Haiti has worsened in recent months, with gangs targeting a UN helicopter in October, prompting some airlines to temporarily halt operations. In June, a UN-led policing mission with Kenyan officers was deployed to restore control from the gangs.
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