JetBlue flight hit by bullets while leaving violence-plagued Haiti — on same day Spirit plane was struck
A Spirit Airlines flight from Florida was diverted to the Dominican Republic wen it was damaged by gunfire as it was about to land in Haiti on Monday
JetBlue Airways said a New York-bound flight from Haiti was struck by gunfire on the same day a Spirit Airlines plane was shot, forcing the company to temporarily halt all flights to the violence-plagued Caribbean nation.
JetBlue Flight 935 arrived at JFK International Airport on Monday following the incident with Spirit Airlines, with flight inspectors discovering a bullet hole in the plane’s exterior.
“We are actively investigating this incident in collaboration with relevant authorities,” JetBlue said in a statement, noting that the plane had experienced no issues during the flight.
The airline has now canceled all flights to and from Haiti through Dec. 2, citing the ongoing gang violence that has begun to affect air traffic in Port-au-Prince.
JetBlue’s decision comes as the Federal Aviation Administration canceled flights in and out of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday.
The airport made headlines on Monday when a Spirit Airlines plane was assaulted with gunfire and struck multiple times as it was trying to land.
A flight attendant was grazed by a bullet during the incident, forcing the plane to divert to an airport in the Dominican Republic.
Multiple bullet holes could be seen in the overhead bins and a plane door in the aftermath, according to footage obtained by local outlet Media Libre Haiti.
“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] today,” an airline spokesperson told The Post.
“The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we have suspended our service at Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation.”
The US Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert saying it was “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.
“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the embassy added. “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel.”
Monday’s incidents unfolded just two weeks after the airlines temporarily suspended flights to Haiti’s capital after gang members opened fire and struck a United Nations’ helicopter flying nearby.
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