Airlines pausing flights to Haiti after planes hit by gunfire
(The Hill) -- JetBlue, Spirit Airlines and American Airlines have paused flights to Haiti after two planes were struck by bullets amid escalating gang violence in the country.
JetBlue cited the “ongoing civil unrest” in announcing its decision to suspend flights through Dec. 2.
“Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our customers and crewmembers,” its statement read. “Due to the ongoing civil unrest in Haiti, we have made the decision to suspend all flights to and from the country through December 2. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and update our plans as necessary.”
American Airlines wrote that “our daily service from Miami International Airport (MIA) has been suspended until Monday, Nov. 18” as a result of the Port-au-Prince airport's closure.
“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” American Airlines added.
After a JetBlue flight from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Monday, an inspection discovered the aircraft had been struck by a bullet, the airline said in a statement.
“While no issues were initially reported by the operating crew, a post-flight inspection later identified that the aircraft’s exterior had been struck by a bullet,” the JetBlue statement read. “We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with relevant authorities.”
The incident was reported shortly after a separate flight, Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was shot at on Monday as it was arriving in Haiti. The flight diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic. One flight attendant reported “minor injuries,” but no guest was injured.
The FAA said two other flights bound for the same airport “were diverted as a precaution.”
The Toussaint Louverture airport in Port-au-Prince temporarily suspended operations as of Monday.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince warned Americans not to travel to the country following the Spirit Airlines incident.
“The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports,” the statement Monday read.
“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. Travel within Haiti is conducted at your own risk. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel,” the embassy added.
The embassy also offered additional guidance to Americans currently in Haiti.