A flight from the American company Spirit Airlines, which was headed from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, was diverted to the Dominican Republic after being hit by gunfire during its approach to the Haitian capital. Spirit flight 951 landed safely at Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros, where damage to the fuselage due to gunfire was evident.
A flight attendant was slightly injured and is receiving medical attention, while the airline confirmed that none of the passengers on board were harmed. Spirit Airlines has withdrawn the aircraft from service and is coordinating the transfer of passengers and crew back to Fort Lauderdale on another plane.
In light of this incident, Spirit Airlines has decided to temporarily suspend its service to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien, pending further evaluation. Other airlines such as American Airlines and Jet Blue have also announced the suspension of their flights to Haiti until at least Thursday.
This event occurs at a time of high political tension in Haiti, with the ousting of Prime Minister Garry Conille and the expectation of the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. Furthermore, threats of violence from armed gangs have increased, raising concerns about safety in the Caribbean country.
According to data from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, between July and September of last year, at least 1,223 people lost their lives and another 522 were injured as a result of violence and clashes with armed gangs. In the first half of that same year, there were 3,900 victims, including dead and injured, reflecting the severe insecurity situation in Haiti.
Amid this crisis, the attack on the Spirit Airlines plane highlights the dangerous reality facing the Haitian population and underscores the need for urgent measures to restore peace and stability in the country.
