FAA Bans US Airlines From Flying Into Haiti After Shots Hit Passenger Planes

A Spirit Airlines commercial airliner after taking off from Harry Reid International Airport on Feb. 8, 2024. Mike Blake/Reuters

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday announced it is banning all civilian flights to Haiti for 30 days after gunfire struck at least two passenger jets at the Port-au-Prince airport this week.

The FAA issued a Notice to Air Mission, or NOTAM, prohibiting U.S. civil aviation operations in the territory and airspace of Haiti below 10,000 feet for 30 days.

A Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital was struck by gunfire on Monday, forcing it to be diverted to the neighboring Dominican Republic, while a JetBlue Airways flight returning from Port-au-Prince was discovered with bullet damage after arriving in New York.

In a statement, the FAA said that the Spirit Airlines plane landed at the Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, on Monday after it “was reportedly damaged by gunfire while trying to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-Au-Prince.” The flight was arriving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“Two other flights bound for Toussaint Louverture International Airport were diverted as a precaution. The airport is now closed,” the FAA said. “Contact local authorities for more on the investigation and the airline for information about those on board.”

While the FAA did not make mention of the incident, JetBlue on Monday said it will extend a halt to all flights to and from Haiti through Dec. 2 after damage from a bullet to a plane returning from Port-au-Prince was discovered.

JetBlue said its Flight 935 arrived later on Monday in New York without reporting any issues but a post-flight inspection found that the aircraft’s exterior had been struck by a bullet.

“We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with relevant authorities,” JetBlue said.

Armed gangs in Haiti’s capital reportedly have been shooting at aircraft in recent weeks as the country’s security situation deteriorates. Last month, a United Nations helicopter was hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince.

The U.S. Embassy in Haiti sent a security alert on Monday, saying it is “aware of gang-led efforts to block travel” in Port-au-Prince with armed violence, road disruptions, and impeding access to ports and airports.

“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the embassy said. “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel.”

The U.S. Department of State currently lists Haiti as “Level 4 - Do Not Travel,” citing kidnappings, crime, lack of health care infrastructure, demonstrations and riots, and “mob killings.”

“The airport in Port-au-Prince can be a focal point for armed activity. Armed robberies are common. Carjackers attack private vehicles stuck in traffic. They often target lone drivers, especially women. As a result, the U.S. embassy requires its staff to use official transportation to and from the airport,” the State Department said in an advisory that was updated on Sept. 24.

Haiti’s situation has been continuing to spiral out of control following the assassination of then-President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, leading to a security vacuum and a rise in gang activity.

A report from the UN in September found that “at least 3,661 people have been killed since January this year” due to unrest and violence by armed criminals and gangs.

Reuters contributed to this report.