Two jets from US airlines struck by gunfire over Haiti’s capital

Due to increasing gang violence, Haitian authorities banned all flights into and out of the capital, Port-au-Prince, after two aircraft operated by US-based airlines were shot at Monday while passing over the city.

While trying to land in Port-au-Prince, a Spirit Airlines aircraft was struck by gunfire, causing one crew member to sustain what the airline called "minor injuries."

After being diverted and landing in Santiago, the Dominican Republic, Spirit reported Monday that its Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port-au-Prince, had "evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire." In addition to suspending Spirit flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, the airline said that the aircraft has been taken out of service.

Flight attendants received a warning from the Haitian civil aviation authority later on Monday, stating that "air traffic operations are temporarily suspended" at the airport. The warning called a notice to airmen (NOTAM), is scheduled to expire on Monday, November 18, after going into effect at 2:00 p.m. local time on Monday.

American Airlines and JetBlue, two US-based airlines, briefly canceled flights to and from Haiti in response to the Spirit incident.

Later, JetBlue announced that one of its planes returning from Haiti had been found to have gunshot damage, extending the flying suspension until December 2.

According to the company, JetBlue Flight 935 arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York without any problems at first, but a post-flight examination revealed that a bullet had hit the outside of the aircraft.

JetBlue stated, "We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with relevant authorities," and justified the flight suspension by pointing to "the going civil unrest."

On the same day as the occurrences, businesswoman Alix Didier Fils-Aime, the new prime minister of Haiti, was sworn in by the transitional government and promised to restore democracy and security to the nation.

For almost a year, Haiti has been attacked by political unrest and rampant gang activity; in recent weeks, direct violence has even affected foreign actors. A United Nations chopper was also struck by gunfire last month while it was flying above Port-au-Prince. In another incident in October, gangs gunned down US Embassy vehicles, forcing 20 embassy employees to evacuate.

Coordinated gang attacks in late February and early March caused the closure of the main harbor and airport in the capital of Haiti, snuffing out essential humanitarian relief and food supplies for the Caribbean country.