Flights to Haiti were disrupted for the second day in a row after civil unrest near the country’s main airport broke out on Thursday. While there were fewer US flight cancelations on Friday, Haitian airline Sunrise Airways reportedly canceled a pair of flights as a precaution.
Some aircraft have been damaged due to reports of gunfire near the airport in Port-au-Prince. Additionally, the US Embassy has temporarily halted the travel of official US personnel to the country.
Monitoring the situation
Violence and unrest from gangs have grappled much of Haiti in recent years. Coming close to Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) earlier this week, airlines canceled scheduled flights on Thursday and Friday for the safety of passengers and crew.
Spirit Airlines plane on tarmac at Miami International Airport.
Flights to Haiti were disrupted for the second day due to civil unrest near the airport.
Gang violence in Port-au-Prince caused two US airlines to cancel flights for safety.
A Level 4 travel advisory was issued for Haiti.
Flights to Haiti were disrupted for the second day in a row after civil unrest near the country’s main airport broke out on Thursday. While there were fewer US flight cancelations on Friday, Haitian airline Sunrise Airways reportedly canceled a pair of flights as a precaution.
Some aircraft have been damaged due to reports of gunfire near the airport in Port-au-Prince. Additionally, the US Embassy has temporarily halted the travel of official US personnel to the country.
Monitoring the situation
Violence and unrest from gangs have grappled much of Haiti in recent years. Coming close to Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) earlier this week, airlines canceled scheduled flights on Thursday and Friday for the safety of passengers and crew.
American Airlines canceled its flight from Miami on Thursday but resumed the service on Friday. The airline told CNN that it would “continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind.” Ultra-low-cost Spirit Airlines also cited safety concerns for canceling its service from Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. Flight data shows that Spirit resumed the service on Friday.
Gang violence reportedly erupted near PAP and police headquarters, including the Jamaican consulate. The chaos seen this week began with an assault on the Haiti National Police Academy, which was near the US embassy, according to BNN. As it quickly spread, one police officer was reportedly hurt, and there was damage to aircraft on the apron from gunshots.
Level 4 travel advisory
Sunrise confirmed that planes had been harmed, telling CNN that the nearby gunfire “caused damage to some aircraft and endangered users” at the airport. On Friday, the airline canceled two flights, which was equivalent to a quarter of its operation at PAP. It was an improvement from 10 cancelations on Thursday, according to FlightAware. JetBlue Airways reportedly did not cancel any flights on Friday but did have two delays.
The US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs listed Haiti under a Level 4 travel advisory, discouraging any travel to the country.
“There are reports of heavy gunfire and disruptions to traffic near Port-au-Prince airport. The U.S. Embassy is temporarily halting the travel of official U.S. personnel to the airport and instructing any U.S. personnel at the airport to remain there. Avoid the area. As a reminder, our travel advisory for Haiti is Level 4 – Do Not Travel.”
Friday evening, the bureau posted a security alert on X.
“Very unpredictable”
According to CNN, warring gangs throughout Port-au-Prince have choked off vital supply lines to the rest of Haiti. Gang members have also terrorized the region with killing, kidnapping, arson, and rape, which has forced around 200,000 people to flee their homes. With more than 1,000 people killed, injured, or kidnapped, the United Nations said January was the most violent month in the last two years.
“Recent events indicate that the current security situation in Port-au-Prince remains very unpredictable,” the US Embassy in Haiti said on Friday. “The current wave of gang-related violence may cause delays or disruption of Embassy operations and may negatively impact the ability of the Embassy to provide routine, scheduled, or emergency consular services.”
Airlines will likely cancel more flights should the violence continue or worsen. American said it would adjust its operation “as needed,” according to CNN. (https://simpleflying.com/gang-violence-haiti-flight-cancelation-haiti-february-2024/)
