Haiti’s international airport was temporarily closed on Monday (November 11), when gangs opened fire on a Spirit Airlines flight. According to the US State Department and the airline, the plane was landing in Port-au-Prince. The event occurred when a new Prime Minister was sworn in.
According to the Associated Press, the flight left Fort Lauderdale for Port-au-Prince. Gunfire struck the aircraft many times before it arrived in the country’s capital. One flight attendant was shot and sustained minor injuries. The Associated Press got photos and videos that show bullet holes in the plane’s cabin.
The plane changed directions in response to the attack and landed in the Dominican Republic, per Spirit Airlines. It appeared to be part of what the U.S. Embassy called “gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports.”
BREAKING: Spirit Airlines flight from Florida hit by gunfire while trying to land in Haiti. pic.twitter.com/M3DbjlC4sb
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) November 11, 2024
Last month, Spirit Airlines temporarily canceled its daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Port-Au-Prince because of the same risks. At the time, AP reported that gang members had opened fire and hit a U.N. helicopter flying near the country’s main airport. So, Spirit suspended flights the day after the incident for the safety of its passengers and team members.
