Spirit Airlines Flight Hit by Gunfire While Trying to Land in Haiti

A Spirit Airlines commercial airliner flies after taking off from Las Vegas International Airport in Las Vegas, on Feb. 8, 2024. Mike Blake/Reuters

A Spirit Airlines flight attempting to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, was struck by gunfire on Monday, forcing the plane to be diverted to the Dominican Republic.

Spirit Airlines, in a media statement, confirmed that Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince (PAP) diverted and landed safely in the Dominican Republic. A subsequent inspection revealed “evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire.”

One flight attendant received minor injuries and was evaluated by medical personnel. No other injuries were reported.

According to the airline, the damaged aircraft was taken out of service, and future flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien were suspended.

Haitian-based commercial airline Sunrise Airways has also suspended flights until further notice.

United States-based carriers JetBlue and American Airlines have canceled flights to and from Haiti until Thursday. Toussaint Louverture International Airport has suspended operations until Nov. 18.

In a Nov. 11 statement, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti advised all citizens to avoid traveling to the country because of the ongoing violence.

“The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports,” the Embassy said in its statement.

A United Nations helicopter operating in Haiti was also struck by gunfire in October.

Instances of home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and murder have increased beyond police capabilities to respond since 2021, when President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated.

It’s estimated that thousands of people have died since the start of the year; many more are homeless and fleeing. A nationwide state of emergency was declared in September.

The U.N. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in September that at least 3,661 people have been killed since January due to rampant gang violence.

Garry Conille, a former UNICEF regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, was appointed prime minister in May.

On Nov. 11, Haiti’s transitional presidential council sacked Conille. He was replaced by entrepreneur and former senate candidate Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

A Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti sent a contingent of 400 police officers on June 25, followed by a second group of 200 officers on July 16.

In October, the 15 member countries of the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to renew each member state’s MSS mission to Haiti for another 12 months.