A plane from the American company Spirit Airlines, bound for Port-au-Prince, was hit by gunfire and was diverted to the Dominican Republic, the company announced on Monday, November 11, reporting a “slightly injured”.
Flight 951, which departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted to Santiago, where an inspection was conducted. “Evidence of damage to the device compatible with gunshots was revealed”declared the American low-cost partner. Announces suspending its connections with this Caribbean country devastated by gang violence “pending further evaluation”.
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a travel warning announcing that the city’s airport was closed due to “Gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruption of roads, ports and airports.”
The plane was grounded
According to the The Miami HeraldThe plane was hit while landing at Port-au-Prince airport. “One crew member reported minor injuries and is being examined by a medical team.” but no passengers were injured, the Spirit Airlines press release added. The plane was grounded and another plane must take passengers back to Fort Lauderdale during the day, the company further specifies.
American Airlines also suspended its flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince until Thursday, it confirmed to Agence France-Presse.
Already at the end of October, several companies, including Spirit Airlines, had interrupted their connections with Haiti due to the increase in gang violence in the Haitian capital. This incident occurs in the context of a new political crisis.
On Sunday, the Transitional Presidential Council decided to remove the prime minister, who has only been in office for five months, and a new leader, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, will soon take office.
Haiti has suffered from chronic political instability for decades. But in recent months, the poor Caribbean country has also had to face a resurgence of violence from gangs, which control 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital.
The UN Secretary General asked Haitian political actors on Monday to “overcoming their differences” already “work together”.
