Gunfire Strikes Spirit Airlines Flight as It Nears Port-Au-Prince in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE—A Spirit Airlines flight headed to the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince was hit by gunfire on Monday, leading to its diversion to the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Spirit confirmed that the plane sustained damage upon landing in Santiago, Dominican Republic, rendering it inoperable.
An attendant on the flight was injured, with reports suggesting that the bullet grazed them. Spirit assured that no passengers were harmed.
A circulating video on social media, purportedly captured by a Spirit employee, showed a bullet penetrating near the back exit door and hitting an overhead bin across the aisle.
All flights to and from Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have been paused, according to a travel advisory from the U.S. embassy in Haiti.
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The embassy is cautioning travelers about gang-related violence that may disrupt travel to and from Port-au-Prince, potentially involving armed aggression against roads, ports, and airports.
Spirit has temporarily suspended flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien pending further assessment. JetBlue and American Airlines have announced flight cancellations until Thursday, with ongoing monitoring for potential further cancellations.
The passengers from the affected Spirit flight will be transported back to Fort Lauderdale on another aircraft as Spirit investigates the incident. In recent weeks, armed gangs in Port-au-Prince have targeted aircraft, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Haiti.
