A Spirit Airlines flight heading to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was reportedly struck by gunfire on Monday, according to a report from the Miami Herald. The flight, which originated in Fort Lauderdale, was redirected to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely. One flight attendant reportedly suffered a minor injury from a graze by a bullet during the incident.
In response to the gunfire, airport officials in Port-au-Prince temporarily halted all commercial flights. Flight tracking data shows that other airlines, including JetBlue Airways and Amerijet Cargo, also rerouted their planes away from Haiti. A JetBlue flight, which was scheduled to depart for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, managed to take off successfully prior to the temporary suspension.
The situation led to widespread flight cancellations for Haiti-bound flights, including those from U.S.-based carriers. American Airlines, operating out of Miami International Airport, canceled all flights scheduled for Tuesday to Port-au-Prince. This marks the second similar incident in recent weeks. Last month, a United Nations helicopter encountered gunfire from armed gangs in the same area, forcing it to return to the airport without injuries.
The gunfire incident comes at a politically tense moment for Haiti. The shooting occurred hours before the ruling Transitional Presidential Council was set to swear in businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime as the new prime minister, following the recent dismissal of Prime Minister Garry Conille.
For further details, you can read the full report on the Miami Herald website.
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