Haiti’s airport closes after two U.S. airlines hit by gunfire, Air Transat suspends flights

Two U.S.-based airlines were hit by gunfire Monday (Nov. 11) while flying through Haiti’s airspace, the Miami Herald reports.

One plane operated by Spirit Airlines was struck by bullets while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital city. The second aircraft, New York-bound JetBlue Airways Flight 935, was hit shortly after take off, the report says.

Apparently, the JetBlue crew discovered it had been shot at only after it arrived safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

By the end of the day, all three major U.S. carriers that fly into Haiti (including American Airlines) cancelled their daily service into the country.

In a notice to pilots, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that all traffic into Port-au-Prince’s international airport temporarily suspended until at least Nov. 18.

Flight attendant injured

The Spirit Airlines flight that was struck by bullets was arriving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  According to the Associated Press, the plane was hundreds of feet from landing in Haiti’s capital when gangs shot at it, striking a flight attendant, who suffered minor injuries, according to the airline.

The flight was diverted and landed in the Dominican Republic.

Haiti’s international airport, Toussaint Louverture, has since closed as firefights between gangs and police have broken out in other parts of the city, AP reports.

The turmoil comes one day after a council meant to reestablish democratic order in the Caribbean nation fired the interim prime minister Garry Conille, replacing him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

The council has been marked by infighting and three members were recently accused of corruption.

Air Transat suspends flights

Air Transat operates flights to Haiti out of Montreal. In a statement posted to the airline’s website, the Montreal-based carrier noted that it is cancelling all flights to Port-au-Prince until Nov. 18. 

Passengers that are impacted will be contacted and offered a full refund, says Air Transat.

“We continue to closely monitor the evolution of the situation and remain in contact with the relevant authorities. We will keep you informed of any relevant updates as soon as possible,” the airline wrote in a statement.

Canada updates travel advice

Gang violence in Haiti can impact other forms of travel and tourism. 

Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean suspended cruises to Labadee, Haiti, where the cruise line operates a private beach experience, after criminal gangs launched attacks on local police stations, prisons and other government buildings.

Labadee sits on the northern coast of Haiti, some 130 miles north of Port-au-Prince. The cruise line resumed sailings to Labadee in October. It is not clear, at this point in time, if sailings will be suspended once again. 

The Government of Canada, meanwhile, updated its travel advice for Haiti on Tuesday (Nov. 12), warning Canadians to “avoid all travel” to the Caribbean nation due to threats posed by gang violence and potential civil unrest throughout the country.

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