US suspends flights to Haiti following gunfire incidents over Port-au-Prince

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Tuesday a temporary ban on flights to Haiti by U.S. airlines following gunfire incidents that struck American planes. The suspension, set for 30 days, restricts flights from operating in Haitian airspace below 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), marking a significant escalation in response to rising safety concerns in the region.

The decision came after gunfire hit two commercial flights from Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways on Monday while they were flying over the capital, Port-au-Prince. JetBlue subsequently extended its own flight suspension to Haiti until December 2, citing security issues as the situation remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council appointed Alix Didier Fils-Aime, a businessman and former senate candidate, as the country’s new prime minister. The appointment followed the dismissal of Garry Conille after a prolonged political standoff between Conille and the council over government control.

Despite the presence of a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission, backed by the United Nations, violence in Haiti has continued to escalate. The country faces surges in gang-related violence, kidnappings, and widespread hunger, alongside an increase in territories under gang control.

According to recent UN reports, nearly 4,900 people have been killed in Haiti between January and September this year, while approximately 700,000 people have been displaced within the country, reflecting the severity of the ongoing crisis.