A Spirit Airlines jetliner from Florida was hit by gunfire with one flight attendant suffering minor injuries while the plane was making a landing in Port-au-Prince in Haiti Monday. Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Port-au-Prince was diverted and landed safely in neighboring Dominican Republic, Spirit said in a statement.
An on-the-ground inspection revealed damage to the aircraft “consistent with gunfire,” it added.
“No guest injuries were reported,” Spirit Airlines said, adding that its service to Haiti has been suspended pending further evaluation.
The damaged aircraft was taken out of service and Spirit was arranging for passengers to be returned to Fort Lauderdale on Monday. The airport in Port-au-Prince has grounded all commercial flights, the Miami Herald reported.
After the gun attack, American Airlines announced it was suspending its flight service between Miami and Haiti’s capital until Thursday.
The US Embassy in Port-au-Prince said it is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from the city, which may include armed violence and disruption to roads, ports and airports.
The gunfire incident comes as Haiti is prepared to swear in a new prime minister amid a new power struggle that threatens to plunge the impoverished, crisis-wracked nation into fresh chaos. Haiti’s transitional council has moved to replace Prime Minister Garry Conille, according to an official gazette bulletin seen Sunday by AFP.
The country has not held elections since 2016, widening a political vacuum that has worsened existing security and health crises.
(With agency inputs)
