JetBlue Airways reported a New York-bound flight from Haiti was hit by gunfire on the same day that a Spirit Airlines plane was shot down, forcing the firm to cease all flights to the violent Caribbean nation temporarily.
JetBlue Flight 935 arrived at JFK International Airport on Monday after an incident with Spirit Airlines, where flight inspectors discovered a gunshot hole in the plane’s exterior.
“We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with relevant authorities,” JetBlue said in a statement, noting that the plane had experienced no issues during the flight.
The airline has now canceled all flights to and from Haiti through Dec. 2, citing the ongoing gang violence that has begun to affect air traffic in Port-au-Prince.
JetBlue’s decision comes as the Federal Aviation Administration canceled flights in and out of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday.
The airport made headlines on Monday when a Spirit Airlines plane was assaulted with gunfire and struck multiple times as it was trying to land.
A flight attendant was grazed by a bullet during the incident, forcing the plane to divert to an airport in the Dominican Republic.
Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the overhead bins and a plane door in the aftermath, according to footage obtained by local outlet Media Libre Haiti.
“The plane has been taken out of service, and we are arranging for a different aircraft to return our Guests and crew to [Fort Lauderdale] today,” an airline spokesperson told The Post.
“The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we have suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation.”
he US Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert saying it was “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 security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the embassy added. “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel.”
Monday’s incidents unfolded just two weeks after the airlines temporarily suspended flights to Haiti’s capital after gang members opened fire and struck a United Nations’ helicopter flying nearby.