Two U.S.-based airlines were hit by gunfire on Monday while flying in Haitian airspace. One plane, a Spirit Airlines flight, was struck by bullets while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. The second, JetBlue Airways Flight 935 bound for New York, was hit after takeoff. JetBlue discovered it had been hit only after the crew had safely arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted to the neighboring Dominican Republic, where it landed safely at Santiago Airport. One flight attendant suffered minor injuries; no engers were hurt.
By late in the day, all three major U.S. airlines that fly to Haiti had announced cancellations of their daily service to the country. In a notice to pilots, the Federal Aviation istration said all traffic to Port-au-Prince International Airport was temporarily suspended through at least Monday, November 18.
The incident came as a new prime minister took office in the crisis-hit country, which has been plagued by armed gangs and rising violence.
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