A Spirit Airlines flight has been forced to divert after it was struck by gunfire from gangs while trying to land in Haiti’s capital on Monday.
The plane had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was diverted to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely.
At least one person, a flight attendant, was grazed by a bullet, the Miami Herald reported.
Officials at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have grounded all flights.
Images show bullet holes inside a Spirit Airlines flight that was diverted after it was struck by gunfire as it prepared to land in Haiti on Monday
A passenger shared images of the bullet holes aboard the Spirit Airlines flight
Jetblue Airways and Amerijet Cargo planes have been turned away from Haiti, according to flight tracking.
‘Spirit Airlines flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince (PAP) diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI),’ Spirit told DailyMail.com in a statement.
‘Following the flight’s arrival at STI, an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire. One Flight Attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being evaluated by medical personnel.
‘No Guest injuries were reported. The plane has been taken out of service, and we are arranging for a different aircraft to return our Guests and crew to FLL today. The safety of our Guests and Team Members is our top priority, and we have suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation.’
It is the latest gang-related incident in the struggling Caribbean nation. Stock image
It’s the second time in just a few weeks that an aircraft traveling over Haiti’s capital is hit by gunfire from gangs.
Last month a United Nations helicopter was hit by bullets and forced to return to the airport as it moved over Port-au-Prince.
Haiti’s ruling presidential council is scheduled to swear in a new prime minister, businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime, on Monday, following Prime Minister Garry Conille’s ousting.
It marks even more turmoil in an already rocky democratic transition process for Haiti, which hasn’t held democratic elections in years in a large part due to the soaring levels of gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.
The transitional presidential council was established in April, tasked with choosing Haiti’s next prime minister and Cabinet with the hope that it would help quell turmoil Haiti.
But the council has been plagued with politics and infighting, and has long been at odds with Conille.
The state department said in September that a ‘focal point’ of gang attacks are concentrated at the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the commune of Port-Au-Prince
At the international airport, US officials said armed robberies and carjackers are probable – often targeting lone drivers and women
Organizations like the Organization of American States tried and failed last week to mediate disagreements in an attempt to save the fragile transition, according to The Miami Herald.
In September the Department of State urged Americans to avoid visiting Haiti.
A ‘Level Four: Do Not Travel’ advisory for Haiti has been in place since March due to the country’s ongoing civil unrest, gang violence and riots.
But on September 18, the U.S. State Department updated the advisory with details about the risk of traveling – including kidnapping, mob violence and armed robberies.
They wrote: ‘Kidnapping is widespread, and U.S. citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys.
Ariel Henry at a public lecture at the U.S. International University is Nairobi, Kenya on March 1
‘Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.’
They also state that mob violence has escalated leading to an increase in deaths and assaults.
A ‘focal point’ of these attacks are concentrated at the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the commune of Port-Au-Prince.
At the international airport, the department said armed robberies and carjackers are probable – often targeting lone drivers and women.
Alarmingly, the warning said there’s little the U.S. government can do for their citizens in Haiti due to a general lack of resources.
Former police officer Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier (middle), leader of the ‘G9’ gang alliance, is flanked by gang members after a press conference in Delmas 6, Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 5
Even the U.S. personnel are subjected to a ‘nightly curfew’ and are banned from using public transportation, visiting banks and ATMs, driving or traveling anywhere at night and venturing out without either prior approval and security measures in place.
The recent carnage came after Haiti’s prime minister, Ariel Henry, flew to Kenya to persuade the African country to speed up its UN-approved donation of 1,000 police officers to help bring order to Haiti and get rid of the gangs towards the end of February.
Powerful gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbeque’ Cherizier began his campaign of terror on February 29 after he claimed responsibility for gangs storming two of the country’s biggest prisons and freeing 4,000 prisoners before burning down government buildings and attacking a dozen police stations.
Cherizier said his aim was to block Henry’s return and capture police and government officials.
Even after securing the 1,000 police officers from Kenya, Henry was still unable to return to Kenya. Weeks later he would step down from the position.
Now the government has disintegrated.