The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a 30-day ban on US civilian flights flying into Haiti following gunfire attacks on aircraft landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) in Port-au-Prince.
In a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) issued on November 12, 2024, the FAA stated that the undermentioned parties are “prohibited from operating at altitudes from surface up to but not including 10,000 feet MSL in the territory and airspace of Haiti due to safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing security instability.”
Those parties include all U.S. Air carriers and commercial operators:
- All persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except such persons operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier
- All operators of civil aircraft registered in the United States, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier.
Carriers can still operate flights to the island once express permission is granted by the FAA, or in emergency situations where pilots may have no choice but to divert to an appropriate airport within the Haitian territory. The NOTAM expires on December 12, 2024 at 2359 zulu time.
This follows gunfire attacks on aircraft belonging to three carriers including a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320. On November 11, 2024, Spirit Airlines operated flight NK951 from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Port-au-Prince with an A320-200 registered N966NK.
During final approach, rebels shot at the aircraft, hitting it several times. The pilots initiated a go-around and diverted to the Santiago de los Caballeros (STI) in the neighboring Dominican Republic. Spirit Airlines said that one flight attendant was injured as a result of the attack, and noted several bullet holes in the fuselage and overhead bins. Following the incident, the airline chose to temporarily suspend service to the country.
JetBlue and American Airlines followed in Spirit’s footsteps after they also discovered bullet holes on respective aircraft following flights into Port-au-Prince.
Credit: Bradley Wint/Gate CheckedThe airport has since shut down operations, and is re-routing all traffic to the nearby Cap-Haitien International Airport (CAP).
These attacks are just part of the growing problem of violence following the country’s weakening democracy and growing food scarcity.
Featured image: Bradley Wint/Gate Checked
