Just when you thought Spirit Airlines could not get any more bad press, on Monday, November 11, a Spirit Airlines flight was struck by gunfire. Yes, bullets, while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, leading to the cancellation of several U.S. flights to the country.
Like, what? They shot at a commercial flight attempting to land?
Get this, the flight, which was traveling from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Haiti’s capital, sustained damage consistent with gunfire. A flight attendant was injured during the incident, though the airline confirmed the injuries were minor. “One flight attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical personnel. No guest injuries were reported,” Spirit Airlines stated in a release obtained by NBC News.
Thankfully the Dominican Republic is right over the border and the flight was diverted there for safety. That’s where the aircraft was inspected and the gunfire damage was confirmed. The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince believes the incident may be linked to ongoing “gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince,” which could involve armed violence and disruptions at critical transportation hubs like roads, ports, and airports.
As you can expect, in response to the attack, Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti’s primary international gateway, suspended operations, according to CNN. Major U.S. airlines, including JetBlue and American Airlines, announced that they would temporarily halt flights to Port-au-Prince as a result of the escalating violence.
What’s more, the shooting comes just days after Haiti’s interim Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, took office, promising to restore order and hold elections—an initiative that has been delayed since 2016. The violence surrounding the airport is part of a broader wave of unrest; last month, a United Nations helicopter was also hit by gunfire while flying over Port-au-Prince. In February, gang violence had already forced the closure of both the airport and the main seaport, severely disrupting the flow of essential supplies and humanitarian aid to the region.
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