Haiti’s international airport was closed on Monday after gangs opened fire on a Spirit Airlines flight that was arriving from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Officials reported that the shooting occurred amid the swearing-in ceremony of Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the country’s new interim prime minister.
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While landing, a Spirit Airlines aircraft was just a few hundred feet from the runway when gunfire erupted, resulting in minor injuries for a flight attendant. According to the Associated Press, the flight was forced to divert and landed safely in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Embassy reported that the gunfire was part of gang activities aimed at blocking travel to and from Port-au-Prince, highlighting the country’s increasing security crisis.
Spirit, JetBlue, and American Airlines have announced flight cancellations to and from the area in response to escalating violence in Haiti’s capital. Gunfire and violence continue to erupt in various neighborhoods. Footage shows heavily armed police officers taking cover as bullets fly through the air, and gang members are setting homes on fire in more affluent areas, leading to school closures.
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The unrest arises from political turmoil following the dismissal of interim Prime Minister Garry Conille by a transitional council, has appointed which has appointed businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as his replacement. This council was initially created to lead Haiti toward democratic elections but has since been plagued by internal conflict and allegations of corruption, further exacerbating the country’s instability.
Files-Aime pledged to restore peace and stability to the country, stating that “there’s a lot to be done to bring back hope.” Haiti has faced weeks of violence, with gangs taking control of large parts of the capital and other regions. The United Nations also said in their report that the gang factions control about 85% of Port-au-Prince.
