Airlines cancel flights to Haiti after Spirit plane hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince

CNN
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Haiti sworn in a new prime minister on Monday after a Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire over the capital Port-au-Prince, according to a diplomatic source in the country. The incident resulted in what the airline described as “minor injuries” to one of its crew members.

Spirit said Monday that its Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted to Port-au-Prince and landed in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where “an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire.”

The airline said one of its flight attendants reported minor injuries and was being examined by medical staff. No other injuries were reported, the airline said. It added that the aircraft was taken out of service and Spirit flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien were suspended.

Data from FlightRadar24 reviewed by CNN showed the plane plummeted to an altitude of 550 feet over the Tabarre district of Port-au-Prince, east of the airport, before quickly pulling up and bypassing the runway.

Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti’s main international airport, has since suspended operations following the incident, the diplomatic source told CNN.

Haiti-based commercial airline Sunrise Airways told CNN it has suspended flights until further notice. US-based airlines JetBlue and American Airlines have also canceled flights to and from Haiti through Thursday.

Haiti has been plagued by widespread gang activity and political chaos for nearly a year, with direct violence also affecting international actors in recent weeks. Last month, a United Nations helicopter was also hit by bullets while flying over Port-au-Prince. And in another incident in October, gangs fired shots at U.S. Embassy vehicles, later leading to the evacuation of 20 embassy employees.

In late February and early March, coordinated gang attacks forced the closure of both the airport and the main seaport in the Haitian capital, halting vital food and humanitarian aid deliveries to the Caribbean nation.

The latest incident came amid escalating political unrest after Haiti’s interim presidential council voted to replace Prime Minister Garry Conille after less than half a year in office.

Businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé was officially sworn in as Haiti’s new prime minister on Monday at a ceremony attended by various government officials in Port-au-Prince.

He vowed to restore democracy and security across the country, which has been plagued by deadly gang violence for years. “We are in a transition, a huge project. Of course, the most important first project – and one that is necessary for the success of the transition – is restoring security!” he explained, drawing applause from those present.

The interim council selected Didier Fils-Aimé for the post after eight of its nine voting members signed a declaration on November 8 to replace Conille, who had been in office for less than a year.

Copies of the signed statement were leaked over the weekend and published in the country’s official gazette early Monday.

In a statement shared with CNN on Sunday, Councilor Fritz Jean said the council made its decision after considering several issues related to Conille’s term as prime minister. Among other things, Jean said Conille made decisions without informing the council and assumed presidential duties, such as conducting diplomatic affairs.

Conille has not yet publicly commented on the resolution. CNN has reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office for comment.

Conille’s predecessor, Ariel Henry, resigned earlier this year amid rising gang violence.