Haiti Airport Shut Down After Gunfire Hits Flight Amid Uprising
Haiti’s Airport Shut Down After Gunfire Hits Flight Amid Uprising as New Prime Minister Is Sworn In
Source: CLARENS SIFFROY / Getty
Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport was forced to shut down on Monday after armed gangs fired on a commercial flight attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. A Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was just hundreds of feet from landing when bullets struck the aircraft, injuring a flight attendant.
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The pilot quickly diverted the flight to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely without further injuries reported among passengers. Spirit Airlines later confirmed that the plane had been taken out of service due to gunfire damage, and the airline suspended all flights to Haiti. JetBlue Airways and American Airlines soon followed suit, canceling flights to and from Port-au-Prince.
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This violence marks the second time in recent weeks that gang fire has hit an aircraft over the city. In October, gunfire struck a United Nations helicopter, though no injuries were reported. The U.S. embassy issued a security alert on Monday, citing “gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince,” with warnings about armed violence affecting roads, ports, and airports.
Across the capital, firefights erupted between gangs and police, and residents witnessed heavily armed officers seeking cover as rounds of gunfire echoed through city streets. In upscale areas, gangs set fire to homes, and panic prompted school closures as the violence spread.
Related Article: The Future Of Haiti: House Democrats Call For Urgent Action On Island Nation’s Crises
Monday also marked the swearing-in of Haiti’s new interim prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who was appointed by the transitional presidential council. Fils-Aimé replaces Garry Conille, who had only held the position since May before political conflict led to his dismissal. Fils-Aimé, an entrepreneur and former Senate candidate, has pledged to bring peace back to the capital, which remains plagued by gang violence and instability following an insurrection in March that ousted the previous prime minister and freed over 4,600 prisoners. However, residents remain uncertain and wary, with little sign that authorities will be able to swiftly regain control over the gang-controlled areas of the capital.
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Haiti’s Airport Shut Down After Gunfire Hits Flight Amid Uprising as New Prime Minister Is Sworn In was originally published on rickeysmileymorningshow.com
