A Spirit Airlines airliner bound for the Dominican Republic was shot at from the ground before being diverted to the Dominican Republic. Port-au-Prince was hit by gunfire and diverted to the Dominican Republic, the company announced on Monday. “slightly injured”. A flight attendant was reportedly injured in the incident, grazed by a bullet, according to the Miami Herald. According to the same source, the plane was hit on landing.

A video circulating on social networks, which appears to have been taken by a Spirit employee but which Reuters could not immediately verify, shows where another bullet passed near the rear exit door and then struck the overhead compartment on the other side of the aisle.

Aircraft targeted

The plane, which had left Fort Lauderdale in Florida, was diverted to Santiago, where an inspection was carried out. “revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire”said the American low-cost airline, which serves this poor Caribbean country ravaged by gang violence. It has also announced the suspension of flights to Haiti, which has been ravaged by gang violence. “pending further evaluation”.. The plane is grounded and another aircraft is due to return the passengers to Fort Lauderdale later today, the company adds.

At the end of October, several airlines, including Spirit Airlines, had already suspended their services to Haiti due to an upsurge in violence in the capital. Armed gangs had already fired on planes in recent weeks as the security situation deteriorated. Last month, a UN helicopter was hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince.

All flights to and from Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture international airport have been halted, according to the Herald. Passengers on Monday’s flight will be taken on another plane back to Fort Lauderdale, from where the flight departed, the airline said. Two other airlines, American Airlines and JetBlue, immediately suspended their flights to Haiti until Thursday following the announcement.

Political instability

On Sunday, the Transitional Presidential Council decided to dismiss the Prime MinisterA new leader, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, is due to take office shortly.

Haiti has suffered from chronic political instability for decades. But in recent months, the impoverished Caribbean nation has also had to contend with a resurgence of gang violence, which controls 80% of the capital Port-au-Prince. On Monday, the UN Secretary General called on Haiti’s political players to “overcome their differences” and to “working together.