Future U.S. Flights To Haiti In Limbo, American Confirms Bullet Hit 737-8

The future of U.S. airlines’ operations to Haiti is uncertain following gunfire hitting multiple aircraft over Port-au-Prince on Nov. 11, with American Airlines becoming the third U.S. carrier to confirm its aircraft was struck.

The FAA has prohibited U.S. carriers from flying to the Caribbean nation or below 10,000 ft. in Haiti’s airspace for at least 30 days, citing "ongoing security instability."

American Airlines confirmed to Aviation Week that its Boeing 737-8 aircraft was hit by a bullet over Touissant L’Overture Airport (PAP), which serves the capital Port-au-Prince. That means all three U.S. airlines serving PAP—American, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines—have confirmed aircraft were struck by gunfire on Nov. 11.

According to the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, PAP has suspended operations amid ongoing violence around the airport. The embassy warned the “area around the airport remains unstable and outbreaks of violence near the airport could occur.” The embassy has said there are "gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince.”

An American spokesperson said Flight 819 from Port-au-Prince to Miami International Airport (MIA) on Nov. 11 “landed safely and uneventfully,” but a post-flight inspection revealed “the exterior of the aircraft had been impacted by a bullet.”

American has suspended its daily MIA-PAP service through Feb. 12, 2025. “We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” the spokesperson said.

American has operated the route with both a 737-800 and 737-8 in recent months.

Sunrise Airways, the Haitian airline based in Port-au-Prince, posted on its website that “all our flights to/from Port-au-Prince (domestic and international flights) are suspended until further notice.”

A Spirit Airlines A320neo en route to PAP from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Florida was hit by gunfire while attempting to land at PAP on Nov. 11, forcing its diversion to the Dominican Republic, where it landed safely. After a JetBlue Airways A320 flying from PAP arrived at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on Nov. 11, a post-flight inspection revealed the aircraft had been struck by a bullet.

According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, there were 28 weekly flights being operated between the U.S. and Port-au-Prince as of Nov. 11. In addition to American’s daily MIA-PAP service, JetBlue serves the Haitian capital daily from both FLL and JFK. Spirit flew daily to Port-au-Prince from Fort Lauderdale.

“If you are a U.S. citizen in Haiti whose flight has been canceled, please call your airline’s customer service office for specific information and advice,” the U.S. embassy said in its latest security alert. “Please be aware that at this time traveling to the airport in Port-au-Prince is not safe and the commercial airlines may not have agents at the airport to assist you until regular commercial travel starts back up.”