The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has temporarily banned all U.S. flights to Haiti following an incident in which a Spirit Airlines flight was struck by gunfire while approaching Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday. The restriction will last for 30 days, with the FAA citing “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing security instability” in the region.
Spirit Airlines Flight 951, en route from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was hit by gunfire as it prepared to land in Port-au-Prince. Following the attack, the plane was redirected to land safely in the Dominican Republic. One flight attendant sustained injuries in the incident, according to Spirit Airlines.
The security incident has led to the temporary closure of Port-au-Prince airport until next Monday, impacting commercial and humanitarian operations. The United Nations also announced a suspension of its flights to the city due to safety concerns, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
The FAA and airlines will continue to assess the situation before resuming flights, prioritizing passenger and crew safety amidst the ongoing unrest in Haiti.
