A Spirit Airlines plane flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was struck by gunfire as it attempted to land in the Haitian capital, forcing it to divert and land elsewhere. A spokesperson for the airline said that a flight attendant onboard sustained “minor injuries” in the ordeal and is being evaluated.
According to the airline spokesperson, Flight 951 was diverted to Santiago in the Dominican Republic, where “an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire.” The spokesperson didn’t respond when asked if the plane was deliberately targeted. Screenshots taken from a video obtained by TMZ appear to show multiple bullet holes in the cabin.
The plane has been taken out of service, and Spirit Airlines has suspended all service to Haiti. American Airlines and JetBlue, which also fly to Haiti, have also canceled flights to the country. According to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, operations at the Toussaint Louverture airport are temporarily paused.
In recent years, violent gangs have besieged the country, which has struggled to sustain stable political leadership following the shock assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his home in July 2021. The U.S. Embassy warned Americans not to travel to Haiti, calling the security situation there “unpredictable and dangerous.” Travelers should be prepared to encounter “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 embassy said in a security alert.
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