Haiti: Commercial flights hit by gunfire as new prime minister vows to stop gang violence

Two commercial planes were opened fire on in the capital of Haiti.

A Spirit Airlines flight was just meters away from landing in Port-au-Prince from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when mobs opened fire on the plane, wounding a flight attendant.

The footage, thought to have been taken by an airline employee and circulating on social media, appeared to show the hole in which a bullet entered the plane near the rear door and hit the overhead lockers.

The US embassy announced that the plane was diverted and landed in the Dominican Republic, and entrances and exits to Toussaint Louverture International Airport were stopped. Haiti in question.

Shortly after, a bullet hit the JetBlue plane taking off from the capital towards New York.

The airline said Flight 935 arrived later than planned without reporting any problems, but post-flight inspection found that the exterior of the plane had been hit.

JetBlue said it would extend the suspension of all flights to the country until December 2, adding that it was investigating the attack and cooperating with the relevant authorities.

Businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime became the country’s new interim leader, replacing Garry Conille, who was dismissed after just six months.

Mr. Fils-Aime said his top priorities after taking office were to restore peace in the country and hold elections, which have not been held in Haiti since 2016 due to gang violence that has greatly increased.

The gangs, which control 80 percent of the capital, main roads and infrastructure, often target major airports such as Toussaint Louverture International to take advantage of political instability.

Earlier this year, coordinated attacks by gangs forced former prime minister Ariel Henry to resign.

Gunmen took control of police stations, opened fire on the airport, causing it to be closed for nearly three months, and raided Haiti’s two largest prisons.

Violence continued under Mr. Conille; Gang massacre in which 70 people died The targeting of a United Nations helicopter that was hit by bullets while flying over the capital in the town of Pont-Sonde in October.

Speaking after taking office on Monday, Mr Fils-Aime said: “Obviously, the first inevitable challenge is to restore security.

“Security of the population, security of goods and infrastructures. Food security and freedom of movement throughout the entire national territory.”

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