An incident recently occurred with a Spirit Airlines flight that has underlined added dangers of flying to Haiti amid growing violence in the region. Spirit Airlines Flight 951, an Airbus A320 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was hit with gunfire while approaching Toussaint Louverture International Airport on November 11, 2024. This accident has increased the alarm over aviation safety in Haiti amid the shared rise of gang violence and overall political turmoil.
Spirit Airlines Flight 951 took off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and flew towards Port-au-Prince; it started the approach over the Tabarre neighborhood at about 550 feet in altitude when it was struck by gunshots. It aborted the landing and rapidly climbed to higher altitude. Due to the attack, the flight was diverted to Cibao International Airport in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where it landed safely.
Indeed, an investigation afterwards confirmed damage consistent with gunfire. Photos and videos posted online showed bullet holes piercing the skin and also damaging an overhead compartment. No passengers were hurt, but a flight attendant did suffer a minor debris injury. The flight was immediately withdrawn from service to be further investigated in Santiago, while the crew member concerned was taken for medical assessment.
Immediately after the incident, Toussaint Louverture International Airport temporarily closed, and Spirit Airlines wasted little time joining in with an announcement it would halt all operations to Haiti. Others followed, including American Airlines, JetBlue, and Haitian airline Sunrise Airways, all of which announced no flights to Port-au-Prince until further notice. The decision reflects deepening security concerns among airlines as violence in Haiti has continued to escalate near major travel hubs in the country.
Unbridled gang activities and political turmoil have drastically worsened the security situation in Haiti over the past few years, especially after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Violence spearheaded especially by the gangs, including organized efforts to block major transportation routes in and out of Port-au-Prince, has increased compelling the U.S. Embassy in Haiti to issue a security alert. American citizens have been strongly advised against traveling to the region where roads, ports, and airports stand to face serious threats from violent groups.
This is not an isolated incident; even United Nations aircraft operating in the area have been targeted by gangs in what analysts perceive as a manifestation of the broader security crisis. The airlines continue to fly to Haiti with high alarm, and most of them reassess their operations within the country as volatile conditions persist.
The shooting involving Spirit Airlines Flight 951 just adds to the growing pressures on airlines to rethink operations in Haiti amid swelling international scrutiny by agencies such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Haitian Civil Aviation Authority that may very well lead to more stringent safety protocols or even much longer suspension of flights to the Caribbean country.
Now, the violence has extended to commercial flights, raising more concerns for Haiti’s already précariotourism industry, as airlines and passengers begin to raise more concern about the safety of travel to the region. This is a reflection of a tense and unpredictable atmosphere in Port-au-Prince that needs urgent stability and security in the country.
