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The U.S. aviation regulator has suspended flights to Haiti by American carriers for at least 30 days following three separate gunfire incidents targeting planes arriving at or leaving the Toussaint Louverture airport in Port au Prince.
Planes from JetBlue, Spirit, and American Airlines were all struck by bullets on Monday while flying to or from Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital.
During the attack on a Spirit Airlines plane, a flight attendant suffered unspecified minor injuries, though passengers were unharmed.
On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety alert, banning flights due to the “security instability” posing risks to flight safety. This prohibition restricts U.S. flights from operating within 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) of Haiti’s territory and airspace.
Flights destined for the neighboring Dominican Republic will still fly close to Haitian air space as some routes require aircraft to follow the coast of Haiti en route to airports at Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata, and Punta Cana.
Haiti has faced escalating gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The United Nations reports that over 3,600 people have been killed this year, and more than 500,000 have been displaced. The country maintains strong ties with the U.S., home to a large Haitian-American community.
The FBI has also joined the investigation into the Spirit Airlines shooting. “The FBI is aware of the incident and is collaborating with law enforcement partners,” the agency said, declining further comment.
The three affected airlines—American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines—had already paused flights before the FAA’s directive:
– American Airlines reported its Flight 819 was hit by a bullet in Haiti, with damage discovered after it landed in Miami.
– JetBlue Airways Flight 634, flying from Port-au-Prince, also showed bullet damage after landing in New York.
– Spirit Airlines Flight 951, en route to Port-au-Prince from Fort Lauderdale, was hit by gunfire as it approached the capital. The plane was diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
The U.S. embassy in Haiti noted “gang-led efforts to block travel” to and from Port-au-Prince, warning that the country’s security situation remains “unpredictable and dangerous.”
The attacks coincided with the swearing-in of Haiti’s new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who has pledged to prioritize security. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department called on Haiti’s political leaders to set aside personal agendas and focus on stabilizing the nation, emphasizing the urgent needs of its citizens.
Sources: BBC, FAA.
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