Two commercial aircraft, one operated by Spirit Airlines and the other by JetBlue, were struck by gunfire on Monday while at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Spirit Airlines Flight 951, which had departed from Fort Lauderdale and was bound for Port-au-Prince, was targeted as it attempted to land in the Haitian capital.
The pilots were forced to reroute the plane to Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, following the incident. Spirit Airlines confirmed in a statement that an inspection revealed the aircraft had sustained damage from bullet impacts. Although a flight attendant sustained minor injuries from debris caused by the gunfire, no passengers were harmed.
Airline Responses Amid Escalating Violence
Due to the increasing threat, Spirit Airlines has temporarily halted flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien. As reported by the Miami Herald, the attack occurred amidst severe violence in Haiti, where armed gangs have been gaining control, particularly near Port-au-Prince's main airport. In response, the Haitian government suspended all commercial flights to prevent further incidents.
Besides Spirit, airlines such as Air Caraibes and Amerijet Cargo also had to divert or cancel flights to the Haitian capital. A JetBlue flight, which had just departed Port-au-Prince for New York, was also struck by a bullet; however, the damage was only discovered after an inspection at JFK Airport in New York. Consequently, JetBlue has suspended its Haiti operations until December 2.
Impact on International Travel and Security Warnings
American Airlines, for example, has halted its flights between Miami and Port-au-Prince until Thursday, noting that it will continue to assess the security situation to decide when to resume operations. The U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a travel alert, warning that the airport closure is part of gang-led efforts to block access to Port-au-Prince, with a high risk of armed violence and disruptions on roads and ports.
The embassy stressed in its communication that “the security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” and advised U.S. citizens to be aware of the risks associated with travel in the country.
Background of Violence at Port-au-Prince Airport
This is not the first time commercial aircraft have been attacked in the airspace of Port-au-Prince. In October, a United Nations helicopter was fired upon by criminal gangs and had to return to the airport. Violence has escalated alarmingly around Toussaint Louverture International Airport, where gangs have heightened their activities and threats, impacting safe travel to and from the capital.
Jimmy Cherizier, known as "Barbecue," leader of the gang coalition Vivre Ensemble, recently urged residents to avoid traveling in the capital, anticipating a surge in violence in Haiti. On Sunday, Cherizier, a former police officer turned gang leader, announced that "the battle will begin again" and advised the population to "stay home" to avoid danger. In a recorded message shared on social media, Cherizier justified his followers' violence, claiming it as necessary to "seize control of the nation's destiny."
Political Tensions and International Efforts
The Spirit incident occurred just hours before the inauguration of Haiti’s new Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, appointed by the Transitional Presidential Council, which dismissed former Prime Minister Garry Conille. Fils-Aimé's ascension to leadership has sparked additional political tensions and controversy in a nation grappling with severe security and governance crises.
Despite the efforts of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), led by Kenya and backed by the United Nations, violence continues to escalate in the country. The UN reported that in the first nine months of 2024, over 4,900 individuals have died due to violence in Haiti, amidst extreme poverty and territorial conflicts among gangs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres released a statement on Monday urging Haitian political forces to set aside their differences and “put the country first,” while the MSSM reaffirmed its commitment to work towards the security and stability of Haiti.