Gunfire hits Spirit Airlines flight approaching Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The main world airdrome successful Haiti’s superior is closed aft nan level is diverted to nan Dominican Republic.

All commercialized flights person been suspended to Haiti’s world airdrome successful nan capital, Port-au-Prince, aft a Spirit Airlines formation from nan United States was deed by gunfire while making its last approach.

A spokesperson for Spirit Airlines confirmed that Monday’s formation from Fort Lauderdale successful South Florida was diverted and landed safely successful Santiago, nan superior of nan neighbouring Dominican Republic.

After nan flight’s arrival, “an inspection revealed grounds of harm to nan craft accordant pinch gunfire,” Spirit spokesperson Tommy Fletcher said.

“One formation attendant connected committee reported insignificant injuries and is being evaluated by aesculapian personnel. No impermanent injuries were reported,” he added.

As a result, he said, Spirit suspended its work to Port-au-Prince and Haiti’s 2nd largest city, Cap-Haitien, “pending further evaluation”.

American Airlines besides announced it was suspending its regular work to Port-au-Prince until November 14.

Local officials confirmed that Port-au-Prince airdrome was closed to each flights aft nan incident.

Photographs and a video obtained by Al Jazeera appeared to show respective slug holes successful nan interior of nan plane, an Airbus A321, including nan overhead luggage compartments.

Haiti is mired successful a deepening humanitarian situation owed to years of pack unit that person forced much than 700,000 group from their homes and deepened already devastating poorness and hunger.

An escalating pack war successful Haiti has killed almost 4,000 group this year, according to nan United Nations.

Monday’s incident is nan second clip this year that nan engaged Port-au-Prince airdrome has been closed, aft operations were suspended successful March for almost 3 months. It besides comes hours earlier nan installation of a caller premier curate aft nan collapse of nan government complete nan weekend.

It is besides nan 2nd clip successful nan past months that an craft travelling complete Port-au-Prince was struck by suspected gunfire from gangs. Last month, a UN chopper pinch 18 group connected committee was deed by pack gunfire. No one was injured, and it was capable to onshore safely.

The United States embassy successful Haiti was besides forced to evacuate immoderate of its nonessential negotiated unit aft gunmen targeted 2 of its vehicles. No unit were injured.

Gang attacks, however, disrupted plans to send a group of negotiated unit backmost home.

Survivors of a deadly pack attack successful cardinal Haiti successful early October described waking up to gunfire and stepping for hours successful hunt of information successful nan aftermath of nan battle that killed almost 100 people.

On October 18, nan UN Security Council extended an arms embargo connected Haiti because of sedate concerns complete nan precocious levels of pack violence.