Flights to Haiti suspended after gunfire targets Spirit Airlines plane

A Spirit Airlines low-cost flight bound for Port-au-Prince was struck by gunfire from the ground, forcing the plane to divert to the Dominican Republic. According to information released on Monday, the incident resulted in a “minor injury” among the crew: a flight attendant was reportedly grazed by a bullet, according to the Miami Herald. The source indicated that the plane was hit while approaching its landing.

A video circulating on social media, apparently filmed by a Spirit employee, seems to show another bullet passing near the rear exit door and hitting an overhead compartment on the opposite side of the aisle. Reuters has not yet been able to confirm the authenticity of the footage.

The flight, which had departed from Fort Lauderdale, eventually landed in Santiago in the Dominican Republic. There, an inspection revealed “evidence of damage consistent with gunfire,” according to Spirit Airlines. In response, the airline has temporarily suspended its flights to Haiti, a country plagued by violent gang activity, pending further assessment of the risks. The affected plane remains grounded, and another aircraft is expected to transport passengers back to Fort Lauderdale later in the day, according to the airline.

At the end of October, several airlines, including Spirit Airlines, had already suspended their flights to Haiti due to escalating violence in Port-au-Prince. In recent weeks, armed gangs had previously targeted planes as the security situation continued to deteriorate. Last month, a UN helicopter was also hit by gunfire over the Haitian capital.

All flights to and from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have been halted, according to the Miami Herald. Spirit Airlines announced that affected passengers would be repatriated on another flight back to their departure point in Fort Lauderdale. Following the incident, American Airlines and JetBlue also decided to suspend their flights to Haiti until Thursday.

Politically, Haiti is facing an increased period of instability. On Sunday, the Presidential Transition Council dismissed the Prime Minister, who had been in office for only five months, and announced that his successor, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, would soon take office.

Haiti has suffered from chronic political instability for decades, but the situation has worsened in recent months with the growing influence of gangs, which now control 80% of Port-au-Prince. On Monday, the UN Secretary-General called on Haitian leaders to “overcome their differences” and “work together” towards a political solution.