Spirit Airlines flight forced to divert after being shot at while trying to land

A Spirit Airlines flight was forced to divert after it was hit by gunfire from gangs on Monday as it tried to land in Haiti’s capital.

The plane had taken off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was diverted to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely.

At least one person, a flight attendant, was hit by a bullet Miami Herald reported.

Officials at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have grounded all flights.

A passenger shared images of the bullet holes on board the Spirit Airlines flight

Jetblue Airways and Amerijet Cargo planes have been turned away from Haiti, according to flight records.

“Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince (PAP) diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI),” Spirit told DailyMail.com in a statement.

“Following the flight’s arrival at STI, an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire. One flight attendant on board reported minor injuries and is being assessed by medical personnel.

“No guest injuries have been reported. The aircraft has been taken out of service and we are arranging another aircraft to return our guests and crew to FLL today. The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority and we have suspended our service in Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haïtien (CAP) pending further review.”

It is the latest gang-related incident in the struggling Caribbean country. Stock image

It is the second time in just a few weeks that a plane flying over Haiti’s capital has been hit by gunfire from gangs.

Last month, a United Nations helicopter was struck by bullets and forced to return to the airport as it flew over Port-au-Prince.

Haiti’s ruling presidential council will swear in a new prime minister, businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime, on Monday, following the ouster of Prime Minister Garry Conille.

It marks yet more unrest in an already shaky democratic transition process for Haiti, which has not held democratic elections in years, largely due to rising levels of gang violence plaguing the Caribbean country.

The transitional presidential council was created in April and tasked with choosing Haiti’s next prime minister and cabinet, in the hope it would help quell unrest in Haiti.

But the council is plagued by politics and infighting, and has long been at odds with Conille.

The State Department said in September that a “focal point” of gang attacks is centered on the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the municipality of Port-Au-Prince.

At the international airport, U.S. officials said armed robberies and carjackers are likely — often targeting lone drivers and women

According to The Miami Herald, organizations such as the Organization of American States tried to mediate disagreements last week in an effort to save the fragile transition.

In September, the State Department urged Americans not to visit Haiti.

Haiti has been under a ‘Level Four: Do Not Travel’ advisory since March due to ongoing civil unrest, gang violence and riots in the country.

But on September 18, the US State Department updated the advisory to detail the risks of travel – including kidnapping, mob violence and armed robbery.

They wrote: ‘Kidnapping is widespread, and American citizens have been victimized and injured or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even attack convoys.

Ariel Henry during a public lecture at the US International University in Nairobi, Kenya on March 1

‘Kidnappings often involve ransom demands. The families of the victims have paid thousands of dollars to save their relatives.”

They also argue that mafia violence has escalated, leading to an increase in deaths and attacks.

A ‘focal point’ of these attacks is concentrated on the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the municipality of Port-Au-Prince.

At the international airport, the department said armed robberies and carjackers are likely, often targeting single drivers and women.

Alarmingly, the warning said there is little the U.S. government can do for its citizens in Haiti due to a general lack of resources.

Former police officer Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier (center), leader of the ‘G9’ gang alliance, is flanked by gang members after a press conference at Delmas 6, Port-au-Prince, Haiti on March 5

Even US personnel are subject to a ‘night curfew’ and are not allowed to use public transport, visit banks and ATMs, drive or venture anywhere at night without prior permission and without security measures in place .

The recent massacre came after Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry flew to Kenya to convince the African country to accelerate the UN-approved donation of 1,000 police officers to help restore order in Haiti and stamp out the gangs by the end of February expel.

Powerful gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbeque’ Cherizier began his campaign of terror on February 29 after claiming responsibility for gangs that stormed two of the country’s largest prisons and freed 4,000 prisoners before burning government buildings and attacking a dozen police stations.

Cherizier said his goal was to block Henry’s return and capture police and government officials.

Even after securing the 1,000 police officers from Kenya, Henry still could not return to Kenya. Weeks later, he would resign from the position.

Now the government has collapsed.