An airliner of the American company Spirit Airlines, bound for Port-au-Prince, was hit by gunfire and was diverted to the Dominican Republic, the company announced Monday, November 11, reporting of a “lightly injured”.
Flight 951, which departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted to Santiago, where an inspection “revealed evidence of damage to the device consistent with gunfire”declared the American low-cost companion. She announces suspending her connections with this Caribbean country ravaged by gang violence “pending further evaluation”.
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a travel warning announcing that the city's airport was closed due to “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 plane was grounded
According to the Miami Heraldthe plane was hit while landing at 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, it confirmed to Agence France-Presse.
Already at the end of October, several companies including Spirit Airlines had interrupted 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.
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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.
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 gang violence, which controls 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital.
The UN Secretary General on Monday called on Haitian political actors to “overcoming their differences” and to “work together”.
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