FAA bans U.S.-Haiti flights for 30 days after flights struck by gunfire

Spirit Airlines airplanes at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US.

Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday banned U.S. civilian flights to and from Haiti for 30 days after a Spirit Airlines airplane was struck by gunfire trying to land in Port-au-Prince a day earlier.

The FAA's ban also prohibits U.S. flights from traveling under 10,000 feet in Haiti's airspace.

On Monday, Spirit Airlines Flight 951 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, diverted to Santiago in the Dominican Republic at around 11:30 a.m. after it was damaged by gunfire, the airline said. Spirit said one flight attendant on board "reported minor injuries" and that no passenger injuries were reported.

American Airlines said one of its flights from Port-au-Prince to Miami was hit by gunfire on Monday and that it landed uneventfully, with no injuries reported.

"Out of an abundance of caution, a post-flight inspection was completed, indicating the exterior of the aircraft had been impacted by a bullet," American said in a statement.

American has suspended flights to the Haitian capital through Feb. 12. JetBlue Airways has also paused service to Haiti.

The U.S. State Department on Monday said that the embassy in Port-au-Prince "is aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports."