The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has suspended flights to Haiti for 30 days due to escalating gang violence.
This follows a series of incidents, including gunfire aimed at three planes last week, one of which was a Spirit Airlines flight landing in Port-au-Prince. A flight attendant was injured, leading to the temporary closure of the airport.
JetBlue also found bullet damage on a plane returning from Haiti, and American Airlines confirmed one of its flights was hit by gunfire, prompting a flight suspension until February 12, according to a pilot union memo.
The violence coincides with the swearing-in of Haiti’s new Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, following the removal of Garry Connille.
Since January, over 3,600 people have died in the violence, and more than 500,000 have been displaced.
On Monday, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported 20 armed clashes and blockades, disrupting the delivery of humanitarian aid and forcing the U.N. to suspend flights to Haiti.
Following the Spirit Airlines incident, Port-au-Prince airport was closed until November 18.
Once a popular Caribbean tourist destination, Haiti is now under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory from the U.S. State Department due to rising gang violence.
The country has been in a state of emergency since March, with ongoing threats including robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince recently warned about gangs disrupting travel in and out of the capital, advising travelers to exercise extreme caution, as travel within Haiti remains unsafe.
The U.S. government has stated it cannot guarantee the safety of travelers in the region.
