Two American airline planes were targeted by gunfire during flights over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, amid escalating violence and clashes between local gangs. The armed conflicts, ongoing for nearly a year, have made the Haitian capital a high-risk zone for air travel.
A Spirit Airlines flight, NK951, en route from Florida to Port-au-Prince, was fired upon while attempting to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. The Airbus A320neo, registered as N966NK, sustained multiple bullet holes in its fuselage, with some penetrating into the overhead baggage compartments. A flight attendant sustained minor injuries, and the crew decided to reroute the flight, landing safely in the Dominican Republic, where the aircraft was subsequently grounded for safety inspections.
Later that day, JetBlue and American Airlines announced the suspension of all flights to and from Haiti. A JetBlue aircraft arriving in New York from Port-au-Prince was also found to have bullet damage upon its landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Due to the ongoing instability in Haiti, the suspension of flights by these airlines has been extended until at least December 2.
In response to these events, Haiti’s Civil Aviation Authority issued a temporary suspension of all air travel to Port-au-Prince until November 18, citing the need to ensure the safety of passengers and crews amid the escalating violence in the capital.