FAA Suspends US Flights to Haiti Following Dangerous Gun Attacks
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has suspended all flights by US carriers to Haiti for at least 30 days following three separate gun attacks on aircraft in a single day. The decision comes after escalating security concerns in the Caribbean nation.
On Monday, planes from JetBlue, Spirit, and American Airlines were targeted by gunfire while operating in Haitian airspace. In the Spirit Airlines incident, a flight attendant suffered minor injuries, though no passengers were harmed. The FAA has now prohibited US flights within 10,000 feet of Haitian territory and airspace due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing security instability.”
Details of the attacks reveal the severity of the situation:
– Spirit Airlines Flight 951 was hit by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince and was diverted to the Dominican Republic
– JetBlue Airways Flight 634 was discovered to have bullet damage after arriving in New York
– American Airlines Flight 819 was struck by a bullet, with damage found during a post-flight inspection in Miami
The incidents highlight the ongoing violence in Haiti, which has been plagued by increasingly dangerous gang warfare since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The UN reports that more than 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti since January, and over 500,000 have been displaced.
The US Embassy in Haiti acknowledged the dangerous situation, noting “gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince” and describing the security environment as “unpredictable and dangerous.” The FBI has also become involved in investigating the shootings.
These attacks occurred simultaneously with a significant political moment – the inauguration of a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who stated that restoring security would be his primary priority. The US State Department has urged Haiti’s leadership to prioritize governance and address the country’s immediate needs, calling for political actors to set aside personal interests.
The suspension of flights represents a significant disruption for Haiti, which has close ties with the United States and a large Haitian diaspora population. All three US airlines involved had already independently suspended their flights following the attacks.
The situation underscores the ongoing humanitarian and security challenges facing Haiti, the poorest nation in the Americas. With persistent gang violence, political instability, and now disrupted air travel, the country continues to face substantial obstacles to stability and recovery.
The FAA’s 30-day suspension will be closely monitored, with potential extensions depending on the security situation’s evolution. Airlines and travelers will need to stay informed about potential changes to travel restrictions in the coming weeks.
