A Spirit Airlines plane waits for takeoff at New York’s LaGuardia Airport
Leslie Josephs/CNBC
gunfire An attack on a Spirit Airlines flight bound for Haiti on Monday injured a crew member and may have also targeted another flight from Haiti, with the U.S. State Department warning that a “gang-led operation” prevented Take a trip to this Caribbean country.
Spirit Airlines confirmed in a statement that one of its flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was diverted to the Dominican Republic on Monday. Inspections of the aircraft reportedly revealed damage consistent with gunfire.
“A flight attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical staff,” the statement said. “There were no reports of guest injuries.”
Spirit Airlines said it will suspend flights to Haiti until the incident is “assessed” and that the aircraft will be temporarily removed from service. Flights back to Florida are being arranged for the crew and passengers who were transferred to the Dominican Republic.
The U.S. State Department later issued an alert saying “gang-led operations” were discouraging travel to Haiti and warned Americans not to travel there.
Also on Monday, a post-flight inspection of the exterior of a JetBlue aircraft flying from Port-au-Prince to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport found evidence that the plane had been struck by a bullet.
“The flight crew initially reported no issues,” JetBlue said.
The airline launched an investigation and said its flights to and from Haiti would be suspended until at least December 2.
American Airlines said in a statement it would also suspend flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince.
“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety as our top priority and will adjust our operations as needed,” the statement read.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said in an alert on Monday that the U.S. State Department was informed of the suspension of operations at the city’s airport.
“The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruption of roads, ports and airports,” the alert said.
The U.S. State Department advises against travel to Haiti, which remains in violent political unrest. Even traveling within Caribbean countries is not recommended.
“Before traveling anywhere in Haiti, you should consider your personal safety and security,” the embassy said. “Only attempt to leave or travel within Haiti if you feel it is safe to do so.”
Haiti has been conquered Armed groups vie for control after power vacuum Remaining due to the assassination of democratically elected President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
When he postponed elections again this year, armed militias plunged them into violence. The country falls into civil strife and take the lives of civilians in danger.
henry april says he will resign Once other Caribbean countries and political parties broker a transitional government.
