A Spirit Airlines flight was shot at and forced to make an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic while attempting to land in Haiti.
According to reports, a spokesperson for Spirit Airlines said that the flight departed from Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport and was set to land at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport when the shots rang out. Jean-David Desrouleaux, a passenger on the flight recalled hearing the shots hitting the plane.
He also recalled the plane’s air pressure changed which led him to believe that the plane was hit. “An inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire,” the spokesperson said. “The plane has been taken out of service, and we are arranging for a different aircraft to return our guests and crew to Fort Lauderdale.”
According to the spokesperson, none of the passengers were harmed, however, a flight attendant did receive minor injuries. “The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority.”
The National Airport Authority source said that the flight flew over Clercine, an area known for its ongoing gang violence. Flights have since been suspended at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. JetBlue and American Airlines have also canceled their flights to Port-au-Prince until Thursday.