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Spirit flight hit with gunfire.
A Spirit Airlines flight was struck by gunfire while landing in Haiti, leading to a diversion to the Dominican Republic and suspension of service to Haiti.
Palmerola International Airport receives its first commercial aircraft, Spirit Airlines Flight NK1314 from Houston, Texas, on Dec. 11, 2021.
A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was struck by gunfire on Monday while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Spirit Flight 951 was diverted to Santiago, Dominican Republic, where it landed safely.
An inspection at the Santiago airport revealed damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire. No passengers on board were injured, though a flight attendant sustained minor injuries and was evaluated by medical personnel. Spirit Airlines stated that the aircraft was taken out of service, and arrangements were being made for a replacement plane to bring passengers and crew back to Fort Lauderdale.
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“The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we have suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation,” Spirit Airlines said in a statement.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince warned of increasing gang-led efforts to block travel to and from the city, which could involve armed violence and disruptions at airports, roads, and ports. The embassy described the security situation in Haiti as “unpredictable and dangerous” and urged U.S. citizens to assess personal safety before traveling, adding that it could not guarantee the safety of those attempting to reach or depart from Haitian airports.
The incident occurred on the same day that Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille was removed from office after just six months in the role, adding further uncertainty to the country's stability.
