The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented a 30-day ban on US flights to Haiti after a series of alarming incidents raised safety concerns for both passengers and airline staff.
US Halts Flights to Haiti Amid Surge in Violence
US Halts Flights to Haiti Amid Surge in Violence
US aviation authorities temporarily suspend flights to Haiti following multiple gun attacks targeting aircraft over the past week.
In a significant move, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has halted all flights from US carriers to Haiti for a minimum of 30 days. This decision arose in the wake of three gunfire incidents targeting planes returning from the impoverished Caribbean nation. On Monday, aircraft from American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines were struck by bullets shortly after departing from Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
During the Spirit Airlines incident, a flight attendant sustained minor injuries, though no passengers were hurt. As a precautionary measure, the FAA issued a Notice to Air Missions, citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing security instability," which now prohibits US flights from operating within 10,000 feet of Haitian airspace.
The FBI has also stepped in to investigate the Spirit Airlines shooting, noting they are collaborating with local law enforcement but withholding further comments as the inquiry is active. The violence in Haiti has sharply escalated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, resulting in more than 3,600 deaths this year alone, and forcing over 500,000 individuals to abandon their homes, according to the United Nations.
American Airlines confirmed that a bullet had damaged one of its planes during a flight to Miami, discovered during a post-flight check. Similarly, a JetBlue flight returning to New York found bullet damage upon arrival, while a Spirit flight was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic after being shot at while attempting to land in Haiti.
The US embassy acknowledged the perilous situation, citing evidence of gang activities aimed at restricting travel in and out of Port-au-Prince. An emerging prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, has pledged to prioritize restoring security in the country. In response to the crisis, the US State Department has called on Haitian leaders to prioritize the urgent needs of the populace over personal agendas to stabilize governance and improve conditions for its citizens.
