FAA Bans Flights to Haiti After Spirit and JetBlue Planes Hit by Gunfire Amid Gang Violence

Nov 12, 2024, 09:43 AM

Flights to Haiti have been suspended after planes from Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways were struck by gunfire while flying over Port-au-Prince amid escalating gang violence. On November 11, a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale was hit multiple times as it approached the capital, injuring a flight attendant. The plane was diverted to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where it landed safely. A JetBlue plane was also struck by gunfire while taking off from Port-au-Prince, leading the airline to suspend flights to Haiti through December 2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days. The United Nations has also suspended flights into Port-au-Prince, affecting the delivery of humanitarian aid. The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince warned Americans not to travel to Haiti and limited its operations on November 12 due to the surge in gang violence. The main airport in Port-au-Prince has been temporarily closed as a result of the unrest.