Two jets from US airlines Spirit Airlines and JetBlue were hit by gunfire over Haiti's capital

CNN
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Two jets from U.S.-based airlines were hit by bullets while flying over the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on Monday, as Haitian authorities suspended all flights in and out of the capital due to escalating gang violence.

A Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, with one crew member suffering “minor injuries,” according to the airline.

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 the plane had been taken out of service and Spirit flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien had been suspended.

Later on Monday, Haiti's Civil Aviation Authority issued a warning to airline crews that air traffic at the airport was temporarily suspended. The notice, known as Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), went into effect Monday at 2:00 p.m. local time and is scheduled to expire next Monday, November 18.

In response to the Spirit incident, US-based airlines JetBlue and American Airlines have temporarily canceled flights to and from Haiti.

In a later statement, JetBlue extended its flight suspension through Dec. 2 and said damage from a bullet was found on one of its planes returning from Haiti.

JetBlue Flight 935 landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York with no problems initially reported. However, a post-flight inspection later determined that the exterior of the plane had been struck by a bullet, the airline said.

“We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with the relevant authorities,” JetBlue said, citing “the ongoing unrest” in its decision to suspend flights.

The incidents came on the same day that Haiti's Transitional Council sworn in a new prime minister, businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime, who promised to restore democracy and security to the country.

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.

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

“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 the restoration of security!” explained Fils-Aimé at the ceremony, earning applause from those present.

The interim council selected Fils-Aimé for the post after eight of its nine voting members signed a declaration on November 8 to replace Garry 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.