On Monday, November 11, a Spirit Airlines flight departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in the United States was shot at during its landing in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
A spokesperson for the airline told Fox News that Spirit Airlines flight 951, originating from Fort Lauderdale, was redirected to Santiago in the Dominican Republic after the shooting incident, where it landed safely.
Upon arrival in the Dominican Republic, inspectors discovered signs of damage to the aircraft.
While no passengers were injured onboard, a flight attendant sustained minor injuries and is currently being evaluated by medical personnel.
The aircraft has since been taken out of service, and Spirit Airlines is arranging for another plane to bring passengers and crew back to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In a statement, the airline expressed: “The safety of our passengers and team members is our top priority, and we have temporarily suspended services to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, pending further assessment.”
The US Embassy in Port-au-Prince stated that they are aware of gang-led activities attempting to disrupt travel in and out of the city, which may involve armed violence and damage to roads, ports, and airports.
“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the US Embassy said. “Travelers within Haiti do so at their own risk.”
The statement also pointed out that the US government cannot guarantee the safety of American citizens traveling to Haitian airports, borders, or abroad.
The embassy advised those considering travel to Haiti to prioritize their personal safety first.
On the same day that the security warning was issued, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille was dismissed from office just six months after taking up the position.