A passenger plane of the American company Spirit Airlines bound for Port-au-Prince was hit by gunfire and diverted to the Dominican Republic, the company announced Monday. The latter reports one minor injury.
Flight 951, which departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted to Santiago, where an inspection “revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire,” the American low-cost airline said. .
It announces that it is suspending its connections with this Caribbean country ravaged by gang violence “pending a more in-depth assessment”. According to the Miami Herald, the plane was hit Monday while landing at the Port-au-Prince airport.
“A crew member reported minor injuries and is being examined by a medical team” but no passengers were injured, adds the Spirit Airlines press release. The plane was grounded and another plane must bring passengers back to Fort Lauderdale during the day, the company further specifies.
American Airlines also suspended its flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince until Thursday.
New political crisis
Already at the end of October, several companies including Spirit Airlines had suspended their connections with Haiti due to an increase in gang violence in the Haitian capital. This incident comes against the backdrop of a new political crisis.
On Sunday, the Presidential Transitional Council decided to dismiss the Prime Minister, in office for only five months, and a new leader, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, is due to take office soon.
Chronic instability
Haiti has suffered from chronic political instability for decades. But in recent months, the poor Caribbean country has also had to face a resurgence of violence from gangs, who control 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince.
The UN Secretary General on Monday called on Haitian political actors to “overcome their differences” and “work together”.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
