HAITI- A Spirit Airlines (NK) flight NK951 was forced to divert after being 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.
Spirit Airlines Haiti Gunfire
A flight attendant was grazed by a bullet, according to the Miami Herald. Officials at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince (PAP) have grounded all flights.
According to the flight tracking site, JetBlue Airways (B6) and Amerijet Cargo planes have turned away from Haiti.
This is the second time in a few weeks that an aircraft traveling over Haiti’s capital has been 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.
The flight was operated by Airbus A320neo, registered as N966NK.
Haiti’s ruling presidential council is scheduled to swear in a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, on Monday, following the ousting of Prime Minister Garry Conille.
This marks further turmoil in Haiti’s rocky democratic transition process, which has been hindered by the high levels of gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.
Unsafe Situation
A presidential transitional council was established in April to help quell turmoil in Haiti by choosing the next prime minister and cabinet.
However, the council has been plagued with politics and infighting, and has long been at odds with former Prime Minister Conille.
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 U.S. Department of State urged Americans to avoid visiting Haiti due to the country’s ongoing civil unrest, gang violence, and riots.
A ‘Level Four: Do Not Travel’ advisory has been in place since March, with the State Department warning of widespread kidnapping, mob violence, armed robberies, and little the U.S. government can do to assist citizens in Haiti due to a lack of resources.
Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests, and victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.
Mob violence has escalated, leading to an increase in deaths and assaults, with a ‘focal point’ of these attacks concentrated at the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in Port-Au-Prince, where armed robberies and carjackings targeting lone drivers and women are probable.
Haiti Gang Terror
The U.S. personnel in Haiti are subject to a nightly curfew and banned from using public transportation, visiting banks and ATMs, driving or traveling anywhere at night, and venturing out without prior approval and security measures in place.
In late February, Haiti’s then-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 eliminate gangs.
Powerful gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbeque’ Cherizier began a campaign of terror on February 29, claiming 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 stated he aimed to block Henry’s return and capture police and government officials.
Even after securing the 1,000 police officers from Kenya, Henry could still not return to Haiti; weeks later, he would step down from the position. As a result, the Haitian government has disintegrated.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
