The escalating gang violence in Haiti’s capital has led to significant disruptions in air travel, with both SpiritAirlines and the United Nations suspending flights due to deteriorating security conditions. On Friday, the UN’s Humanitarian Air Service grounded its flights after a helicopter was targeted and struck by gunfire, highlighting the alarming risks faced by humanitarian operations in the country.
Waanja Kaaria, the Haiti director for the World Food Program, described the helicopter attack as a rare event but confirmed that all flights were on hold for the day. She indicated that when flights resume next week, they will use airplanes instead of helicopters and implement additional routes to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches areas cut off by gang control.
According to Miami Herald, the situation has caused Spirit Airlines to cancel its flights to Port-au-Prince until at least Sunday, with a spokesperson citing civil unrest. The airline emphasized that the safety of its guests and team members is its top priority and is notifying affected travelers of their options. While flights to Cap-Haïtien continue as scheduled, Jet Blue Airways also canceled its service from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince on the same day.
The helicopter attack occurred while it was flying at approximately 800 feet over the capital en route to Les Cayes in southern Haiti. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident, but it underscores the dangers posed by armed gangs, which have intensified their attacks in the capital and surrounding regions.
Source: Miami Herald
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