US flight diverted to Haiti after airport shooting
Miami (USA) (EFE).- A flight of the American company Spirit Airlines, which covered the route between the airports of Fort Lauderdale and Port-au-Prince, north of Miami (USA), was hit by bullets. After arrival this Monday, he was diverted. While approaching the Haitian capital.
Spirit Flight 951 took off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) this morning for the Haitian capital but was forced to abort its landing after multiple gunshots, US media reported.
The incident caused the aircraft to divert to Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros (Dominican Republic), where it landed and subsequent inspection confirmed gunshot damage to the aircraft’s fuselage.
A flight attendant reportedly suffered minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical staff, but the airline confirmed that no passengers were injured.
The aircraft has been removed from service and Spirit is arranging to transfer passengers and crew to another aircraft in Fort Lauderdale.
“The safety of our passengers and team members is our top priority,” the airline said in a statement.
Flights to Haiti suspended
Spirit Airlines has suspended service to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien pending further assessment.
American Airlines and Jet Blue announced they would also suspend flights to Haiti through Thursday.
Haiti remains in political tension this Monday, waiting for businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to take over as the country’s new Prime Minister, following the dismissal of Gary Connell and the announcement by armed gangs that violence will increase from today. Used to be.
The attack on the Spirit plane comes amid violence by armed gangs and new threats from the gangs’ main alliance, Vivar Ensemble (Living Together), which yesterday announced new days of terror starting today.
According to the United Nations Integrated Office in the Caribbean (BINHU), between last July and September alone, at least 1,223 people were killed and 522 injured in Haiti as a result of violence and the fight against gangs.
It also includes 3,900 deaths and injuries in the first half of the year, after ending 2023 with nearly 8,000 victims.