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A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince was struck by gunfire on Monday, November 11, while preparing to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The aircraft was diverted to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where it landed safely. No passengers were injured, though a flight attendant sustained minor injuries, according to a statement by Spirit Airlines. The flight, designated 951, was approximately a mile from the airport when it came under fire over Clercin, a known conflict zone amidst Haiti’s escalating gang violence.
This alarming event led to the temporary suspension of all flights into and out of Port-au-Prince. Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and American Airlines canceled their services until at least Thursday, citing security concerns. Amanda Maldonado, a spokesperson for American Airlines, emphasized that the airline was closely monitoring the situation with a focus on passenger safety.
Jean-David Desrouleaux, a passenger aboard the Spirit Airlines flight, described hearing a series of loud noises as the aircraft’s wheels descended. “It felt like we were hit by something; we heard clacking sounds,” he recounted. The pilot circled Port-au-Prince before deciding to proceed to Santiago for a safer landing.
The incident also led to swift reactions from the Haitian National Airport Authority, which implemented measures to secure the airport’s perimeter. However, broader security challenges fall under the purview of the Haitian National Police, which has struggled to contain escalating violence from heavily armed gangs dominating large swathes of the capital. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary suspension of all flight operations to the Port-au-Prince airport, further demonstrating international concern.
This marks the second aviation-related incident involving gunfire in Port-au-Prince in recent weeks. A United Nations helicopter was struck by gunfire from armed groups while flying over the capital last month, though no injuries were reported. Heightened tensions in Haiti have also seen attacks on diplomatic personnel, notably prompting the evacuation of 20 U.S. embassy staff members in October.
The surge in violence coincides with political instability in the country. On the day of the attack, Haiti’s ruling Transitional Presidential Council was set to swear in a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, following the ousting of Prime Minister Garry Conille. Political upheaval has exacerbated existing insecurity, making governance and restoration of order formidable challenges.
Commercial flights remain suspended as authorities and airlines assess the safety situation. For now, travelers to and from Haiti face uncertainty, and the broader international community remains concerned about the deteriorating conditions in the Caribbean nation.
