November 11th 2024.
A recent occurrence has caused concern in the aviation world after a Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire while flying over Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. According to a diplomatic source in the country, the incident resulted in minor injuries to one of the crew members. The airline confirmed that the flight, which was en route from Fort Lauderdale in Florida to Port-au-Prince, had to be diverted to Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the aircraft had sustained damage consistent with gunfire.
Thankfully, only one flight attendant reported minor injuries and is currently being evaluated by medical professionals. The airline reassured that no other injuries were reported and that the aircraft has been taken out of service for further investigation. As a precautionary measure, Spirit has suspended its services to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. The main international airport in Port-au-Prince, Toussaint Louverture International Airport, has also halted its operations following the incident, according to the diplomatic source.
In light of this, other airlines have also taken necessary precautions. Haitian-based commercial airline Sunrise Airways has suspended all flights until further notice, while US-based carriers JetBlue and American Airlines have cancelled flights to and from Haiti until Thursday. This comes as no surprise as Haiti has been facing political turmoil and widespread gang activity for almost a year now. In recent weeks, even international actors have been directly affected by violence in the country. In October, a United Nations helicopter was hit by bullets while flying over Port-au-Prince. And just last month, gangs targeted US embassy vehicles with gunfire, leading to the evacuation of embassy staff.
This latest incident only adds to the chaos in Haiti. Coordinated gang attacks in late February and early March forced the closure of the airport and seaport in Port-au-Prince, causing a major disruption in the supply of food and humanitarian aid to the country. It's a dire situation that has been ongoing for months now, with no clear resolution in sight. The political scene in Haiti is also unstable, with the recent replacement of Prime Minister Garry Conille after only six months in office.
According to a government communique, Conille was removed from his position by the Transitional Presidential Council and replaced by businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. This comes after Conille's predecessor, Ariel Henry, stepped down earlier this year amidst the escalating gang violence. It's a concerning situation that is only made worse by the constant threat of violence and instability.
In the midst of all this, it's important to stay informed and prepared. Make sure to download the 9News app to stay updated on all the latest breaking news, sports, politics, and weather. With notifications sent straight to your smartphone, you'll always be in the know. The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Let's stay safe and vigilant during these uncertain times.
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