If you are planning to travel to the U.S. via Haiti or to return to Haiti through the U.S. in the next 30 days, it’s essential to review your travel plans.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has temporarily suspended all U.S. flights to Haiti due to incidents in which aircraft were targeted by gunfire near Port-au-Prince. This 30-day suspension was announced in a notice to air missions on Tuesday, as reported by ABC11. The restriction applies to “U.S. civil aviation operations within Haitian territory and airspace below 10,000 feet,” implemented to safeguard air traffic from potential risks when approaching the capital.
The ban follows an incident involving a Spirit Airlines flight forced to divert while attempting to land at Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture Airport on Monday. According to Haiti’s National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC), the plane, which was in route from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was struck by gunfire four times during its descent. When it was just 550 feet from the runway, the plane aborted its landing and safely diverted to Santiago, Dominican Republic. Spirit Airlines confirmed that while no passengers were harmed, a flight attendant sustained minor injuries and received medical attention.
This incident has underscored the escalating violence around Haiti’s main airport, raising serious safety concerns for airlines. The FAA confirmed on Monday that the Spirit Airlines flight had landed without further incident after sustaining damage from gunfire.
In a related development, JetBlue reported that a flight between Haiti and New York had also been hit by gunfire on Monday. In response, JetBlue announced the suspension of all flights to and from Haiti until at least December 2, citing civil unrest.
This article is written by Emmanuel Paul based on an article published by ABC11. Quotations may differ slightly from the article published in English by ABC11, which you can view by clicking on the link below.
https://abc11.com/faa-considers-banning-us-flights-haiti-after-planes-struck-gunfire/15540325/