Armed gang gunfire hits Spirit Airlines flight en route to Haiti

A Spirit Airlines flight traveling from California to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was struck by gunfire believed to be from armed gang members as it attempted to land, according to information obtained by the Miami Herald. The flight, numbered 951, managed to reroute and land safely at Santiago Airport in the Dominican Republic.

A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines stated that the plane, upon inspection at Santiago, sustained minor damage from bullets and has since been taken out of service. The incident resulted in a minor injury to a crew member, the spokesperson confirmed.

The airline arranged for passengers to be transferred to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on a different aircraft. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” the spokesperson added, noting that services to both Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien have been suspended until further notice.

Following the incident, all commercial flights at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Haiti’s capital were suspended, and U.S. carriers halted flights to Port-au-Prince.

The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti reports that armed gangs have been responsible for 3,900 deaths so far this year, with 1,374 of those occurring in the last six months. Haiti, a nation of over 11 million, continues to grapple with political instability, economic challenges, and food shortages as violence escalates. Reports indicate that nearly 80% of Port-au-Prince is now under gang control, exacerbating the security crisis that has plagued the country for years.