Spirit Airlines flight attendant injured after gunfire strikes plane to Haiti

Gunfire hit a Spirit Airways flight to Haiti on Monday, injuring a crew member, and should have struck a separate flight from the nation because the State Division warned of “gang-led efforts” to cease journey to the Caribbean nation.

Spirit confirmed in a press release that one in all its flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was diverted to the Dominican Republic on Monday. It mentioned an inspection of the plane confirmed harm according to gunfire.

“One Flight Attendant on board reported minor accidents and is being evaluated by medical personnel,” the assertion mentioned. “No Visitor accidents have been reported.”

Spirit mentioned that it’s suspending its companies to Haiti pending “analysis” of the incident and that the airplane was being taken out of service in the interim. A return flight to Florida is being organized for members of the crew and the passengers who have been diverted to the Dominican Republic.

The U.S. State Division subsequently issued an alert warning of “gang-led efforts” to cease journey to Haiti and cautioning Individuals to not go there.

Additionally on Monday, a post-flight inspection of the outside of a JetBlue plane used for a visit from Port-au-Prince to New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport turned up proof that it had been struck by a spherical, the airline mentioned in a press release.

“No points have been initially reported by the working crew,” JetBlue mentioned.

The airline launched an investigation and mentioned its flights to and from Haiti will probably be suspended via at the very least Dec. 2. It blamed “ongoing civil unrest” for the pause in journey.

American Airways mentioned a press release that it was additionally suspending its companies from Miami to Port-au-Prince.

“We are going to proceed to observe the scenario with security and safety high of thoughts and can modify our operation as wanted,” it mentioned.

The State Division mentioned in an alert from the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince on Monday that it was conscious of a pause in operations on the metropolis’s airport.

“The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince is conscious of gang-led efforts to dam journey to and from Port-au-Prince which can embrace armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports,” the alert mentioned.

The State Division advises towards journey to Haiti, which remains to be within the midst of violent political turmoil. Even journey throughout the Caribbean nation isn’t suggested.

“It’s best to contemplate your private safety scenario earlier than touring wherever in Haiti,” the embassy mentioned. “Solely try to depart Haiti or journey inside Haiti in case you consider it’s protected for you to take action.”

Haiti has been overcome by armed teams vying for management after an influence vacuum was left by the assassination of democratically elected President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Ariel Henry, the deeply unpopular prime minister on the time, assumed the position of president and failed to carry elections.

And when he as soon as once more delayed elections this 12 months, violence ensued as armed militias plunged the nation into civil unrest and put the lives of civilians in peril.

Henry mentioned in April that he would resign as soon as different Caribbean nations and events dealer a transitional authorities.