A Spirit Airlines flight traveling from Florida to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, experienced gunfire while attempting to land on Monday. The incident prompted the aircraft to divert to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where it landed safely. A flight attendant sustained minor injuries due to debris, but thankfully, no injuries were reported among the passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that two additional flights headed for Haiti were redirected as a safety precaution. Following the incident, Toussaint Louverture International Airport was closed. Video footage circulating on social media depicted a bullet hole within the aircraft, raising concerns about the safety of air travel in the region.
Flight 951, an Airbus A320, had taken off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and was only about 550 feet above a neighborhood when it began to escalate altitude and divert. Robert Sumwalt, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, commended the decision to move to safety, stating it was a necessary response in light of increasing violence in Haiti.
In response to the incident, both Spirit Airlines and JetBlue have suspended their flights to Haiti. JetBlue reported that one of its planes also sustained damage from gunfire after landing safely at JFK Airport in New York. American Airlines has followed suit, temporarily halting flights between Miami and Port-au-Prince.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has issued a warning about the risks of traveling in Haiti, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the security situation due to ongoing gang-related violence.
While this incident raises significant concerns for travelers and airline operations in the region, it emphasizes the importance of vigilance and precaution in areas experiencing civil unrest. Airlines are reassessing their routes and ensuring passenger safety as a top priority.
This situation also serves as a reminder of the need for increased dialogue and measures to address the underlying issues of violence in Haiti, providing an opportunity for communities and governments to work together towards peace and stability.