April 6, 2025
By: Gerard Maxineau of GedeMax
A Haitian-American passenger passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in the departure lounge of Cap-Haïtien International Airport.
Marsan Serge Antoine, 72, had been at the airport since 6 a.m., waiting for a Sunrise Airways flight to Miami. According to a family member, Sunrise Airways was originally scheduled to fly him to the U.S. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, but the flight was canceled.
On Thursday, three Sunrise flights were reportedly scheduled. However, according to the same source, only one flight took off, and Antoine was not on it.
The deceased’s relatives have strongly criticized Sunrise Airways, accusing the airline of neglecting passenger safety.
Following legal formalities, the family hired a private company to transport the body to the city morgue.
A Sunrise Airways representative contacted by MédiaMax expressed condolences for Antoine’s sudden passing but denied the accusations against the company.
Jonathan Bayard stated that such incidents can occur at any airport worldwide.
“It is possible that Mr. Antoine had underlying medical issues, as he appeared calm before collapsing,” he said.
Bayard also addressed the flight cancellations, emphasizing the unpredictability of air travel.
“Air transport is not like a ‘tap-tap’ (shared taxi). Unexpected situations can arise at any moment, leading to flight cancellations,” he explained.
According to Bayard, Sunrise Airways operated two flights to Miami on Thursday, contradicting claims that only one flight took off that day from Cap-Haïtien International Airport
