All major U.S. airlines have suspended service to Haiti’s Port-au-Prince airport after a security incident where both a Spirit Airlines and Jet Blue flight were fired upon during approach, and bullets entered the fuselage, injuring a Spirit flight attendant.
The Spirit flight was then diverted to the Dominican Republic where the crewmember received medical attention and passengers were rebooked back to the U.S. on another Spirit connection.
Haiti is a rather dangerous destination with a lot of political instability, and this has caused plenty of problems with international visitors over the years, but civilian aircraft being fired upon while landing is a new level of threat.
Images from the aircraft’s interior and exterior show bullet holes, and one of the flight attendants was actually struck and injured.
Spirit has put out a statement on social media with a travel advisory:
This travel/change advisory might now somewhat out of date as the entire airport has been shut down.
CNN reports that a total of two aircraft – one JetBlue and one Spirit – were struck by bullets:
Two jets from US-based airlines were struck by bullets on Monday while flying over Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince as Haitian authorities suspended all flights in and out of the capital amid escalating gang violence.
A Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, resulting in what the airline described as “minor injuries” to one crew member.
Spirit said Monday that its Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Port-au-Prince was diverted and landed in Santiago in the Dominican Republic, where “an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire.” The aircraft has been taken out of service, and Spirit services to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien have been suspended, the airline said.
Later Monday, the Haitian civil aviation authority shared a warning to flight personnel, saying “air traffic operations are temporarily suspended” at the airport. The notice, known as a notice to airmen (NOTAM), went into effect at 2:00 p.m. local time Monday and is expected to end next Monday, November 18.
In response to the Spirit incident, US-based carriers JetBlue and American Airlines temporarily cancelled flights to and from Haiti.
In a later statement, JetBlue extended its flight suspension through December 2, saying damage from a bullet had been identified in one of its planes returning from Haiti.
JetBlue Flight 935 landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport without any issues originally reported, but a post-flight inspection later identified that the aircraft’s exterior had been struck by a bullet, the airline said. …
With operations suspended, airlines are, of course, mandated to refund all flights in cash or offer changes without penalty.
American Airlines has likewise suspended Haiti, Port-au-Prince for this week, subject to review.
The incident was widely reported on national news in the past hours:
The U.S. Department of State is extremely explicit when it comes to its travel notice for Haiti:
Updated to reflect additional information on crime.
Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.
Country Summary: Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti. They include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys. Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.
Protests, demonstrations, and roadblocks are common and unpredictable. They often damage or destroy infrastructure and can become violent. Mob killings and assaults by the public have increased, including targeting those suspected of committing crimes.
The airport in Port-au-Prince can be a focal point for armed activity. Armed robberies are common. Carjackers attack private vehicles stuck in traffic. They often target lone drivers, especially women. As a result, the U.S. embassy requires its staff to use official transportation to and from the airport.
Do not cross the border by land between Haiti and the Dominican Republic due to the threat of kidnapping and violence. These dangers are present on roads from major Haitian cities to the border. The U.S. embassy cannot help you enter the Dominican Republic by air, land, or sea. U.S. citizens who cross into the Dominican Republic at an unofficial crossing may face high immigration fines if they try to leave. The U.S. Coast Guard has concerns about security in the ports of Haiti. Until those are addressed, the Coast Guard advises mariners and passengers traveling through the ports of Haiti to exercise caution.
The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti. Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime. Shortages of gasoline, electricity, medicine, and medical supplies are common throughout the country. Public and private medical clinics and hospitals often lack trained staff and basic resources. In addition, they require prepayment for services in cash.
Assistance for U.S. Citizens
U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince, Boulevard du 15 October, Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Telephone +(509) 2229-8000 / 2229-8900
Emergency +(509) 2229-8000
It’s highly advisable for anyone, not only U.S. citizens, to heed this recommendation and stay far away from Haiti. It’s simply not safe, and if the bullets already start flying before your plane even hits the ground, who in his right mind would want to go?
Conclusion
Two U.S. airlines (Spirit and JetBlue) reported that their aircraft were shot at and fuselage damaged while approaching Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti. In one of these incidents, the Spirit flight, a flight attendant was actually injured by the projectile. Visible bulletholes were detected in the aircraft’s fuselage.
In the meanwhile, Port-au-Prince airport has temporarily shut down operations and major U.S. airlines have also halted flight operations for this week, until further notice. If you have planned and booked travel to Haiti contact your airline for updates.
Also, the U.S. State Department advises NOT TO TRAVEL TO HAITI due to the deteriorating situation and dangerous circumstances in the country.
