December 23, 2024
On Monday, November 11, 2024, a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale was forced to reroute to the Dominican Republic due to reports of sporadic gunfire near Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. The Airbus A320, flight NK 951, was approaching for landing when it was redirected for safety reasons. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the vicinity of the airport, creating a tense atmosphere.
It is not yet known if the aircraft sustained any damage from the gunfire; however, as a precaution, Spirit Airlines has decided to suspend all flights to Haiti. This suspension will remain in effect until November 21, 2024, when the airline plans to resume flights to the Haitian capital. This decision follows an increase in insecurity in the airport area, which has been intensified by recent political turmoil.
Tensions remain high in Port-au-Prince, particularly around the airport, where residents have reported sporadic gunfire exchanges since early morning. In response to this incident, Spirit Airlines has yet to release an official statement detailing any potential damage or additional security measures.
This latest incident of violence comes amid a period of significant political unrest in Haiti following the controversial removal of Prime Minister Garry Conille by the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC). This growing instability is affecting not only the daily lives of residents but also international air connections, forcing airlines to reassess their operations in Haiti.