The FAA temporarily halts flights to Haiti for 30 days following incidents where two US-bound flights came under gunfire.

Gang violence is on the rise in Haiti.

The FAA temporarily halts flights to Haiti for 30 days following incidents where two US-bound flights came under gunfire.
The FAA temporarily halts flights to Haiti for 30 days following incidents where two US-bound flights came under gunfire.

The FAA has halted flights between the US and Haiti following attacks on two flights by gang-related gunfire.

The FAA issued a NOTAM on Tuesday afternoon, which affects all U.S. carriers and commercial operators.

The U.S. government's aircraft flying over or into Haiti are exempt from the ban, while operations at Toussaint Louverture International Airport have been paused.

The ban was imposed a day after Spirit flight 951 was hit by gunfire while en route to Haiti. The plane was making a landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, the capital of the country, at the time of the incident on Monday.

Split image of Haiti violence, Spirit plane
The FAA is suspending American flights to Haiti after a gunfire incident involving a Spirit flight. (Getty Images)

A Spirit representative informed Planet Chronicle Digital that the flight originating from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was subsequently rerouted to Santiago, Dominican Republic.

Upon landing in Santiago, inspectors discovered evidence of gunfire damage, prompting Spirit Airlines to halt all flights to Haiti.

On Monday, JetBlue Flight 935 was hit by gunfire while leaving Port-au-Prince. Despite the attack, the plane landed safely at JFK International Airport later that day.

We prioritize the safety of our guests and team members and have temporarily suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) for further evaluation, as stated by Spirit.

Haiti airport after gang violence
A man walks past the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Nov. 12, 2024. (Getty Images)

On Monday, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille was removed from power, while the U.S. government has consistently advised against civilian travel to Haiti due to the country's history of violence and political instability.

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is aware of gang-led efforts to disrupt travel to and from the city, which may involve armed violence and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports on Monday.

The security situation in Haiti is unstable and hazardous, and traveling within the country is done at your own risk. The U.S. government cannot assure your safety while traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward journey.

Spirit flight
A Spirit Airline flight was struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday. (Getty Images)

"The U.S. Embassy advised that before traveling anywhere in Haiti, individuals should assess their personal security situation. Additionally, the embassy recommended that individuals only attempt to depart Haiti or travel within the country if they believed it was safe to do so."

Planet Chronicle Digital's Greg Wehner and Constance McDonough contributed to this report.

by Andrea Margolis

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