Multiple U.S. airlines suspended flights to Haiti Tuesday after a Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, forcing the aircraft to divert to the Dominican Republic.
Spirit Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was approaching Toussaint Louverture International Airport Monday when it sustained damage “consistent with gunfire,” the airline said in a statement. A flight attendant suffered minor injuries, but no passengers were hurt when the plane diverted to Santiago Airport.
Spirit immediately suspended its Haiti service “pending further evaluation,” with American Airlines and JetBlue following suit through at least Thursday. Social media videos purported to show bullet holes in the aircraft’s crew rest area, though the footage could not be independently verified.
The incident marks the second time in three weeks that aircraft have been targeted over the Haitian capital, following an October attack when gang members fired on a UN helicopter. The violence comes as Haiti grapples with deepening political instability, with armed gangs controlling large sections of the country despite a UN-backed Kenyan police mission launched in June.
On Monday, Haiti’s ruling council installed a new prime minister after removing Garry Conille less than six months into his term, further highlighting the Caribbean nation’s volatile situation.
