Gunfire on Haiti-Bound Plane: Flight Attendant Hurt, Airlines Respond

Gunshots hit a Spirit Airlines plane flying to Haiti on Monday, injuring a flight attendant. The plane, heading from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, was forced to land in the Dominican Republic. Spirit Airlines confirmed the damage to the plane was due to gunfire and mentioned that one of their flight attendants was slightly hurt but no passengers were injured. They also announced a temporary halt in flights to Haiti to assess the situation. American Airlines followed suit by suspending their flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince, citing safety and security as their top priority. JetBlue also anticipated disruptions due to unrest in Haiti and waived cancellation fees for flights scheduled from Monday to Saturday. The U. S. State Department warned travelers about gang-led efforts to block travel in Haiti, which could involve armed violence and disruptions to transportation. They advised against traveling to Haiti due to ongoing political turmoil and urged people to consider their safety before making travel decisions. Haiti has faced turbulence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The power vacuum led to competing armed groups fighting for control. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who assumed the presidency, has been criticized for delaying elections, which sparked civil unrest. Henry had promised to step down once a transitional government was brokered by other Caribbean nations and parties.