JetBlue Airways' flight from Haiti to New York was hit by gunfire on the same day a Spirit Airlines jet was attacked, forcing the airline to suspend all flights to the violence-ridden Caribbean nation. announced.
JetBlue Flight 935 arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday following the Spirit Airlines incident, and flight inspectors found bullet holes in the aircraft's exterior.
JetBlue said in a statement that there were no issues with the plane during the flight and that it is “actively investigating this incident in cooperation with the relevant authorities.”
The airline has now canceled all flights to and from Haiti until Dec. 2, citing ongoing gang violence that has begun to affect air traffic in Port-au-Prince.
JetBlue's decision comes after the Federal Aviation Administration canceled flights to and from Toussaint Louverture International Airport on Monday.
The airport made headlines Monday after a Spirit Airlines passenger plane was struck by gunfire and struck multiple times as it was landing.
A flight attendant was grazed by a bullet during the incident, and the plane was forced to divert to an airport in the Dominican Republic.
Footage obtained by local media outlet Libre Haiti showed multiple bullet holes in the overhead bin and the plane's door in the aftermath.
“The plane has been grounded and arrangements are being made to have guests and crew repatriated on other planes.” [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 service in Port-au-Prince (PAP) and Cap-Haitien (CAP) pending further evaluation.”
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti has issued a warning saying it is “aware of gang-led efforts to disrupt travel to and from Port-au-Prince, which may include armed violence and disruption of roads, ports, and airports.” did.
“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous,” the embassy added. “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety at the airport, at the border, or during subsequent travel.”
Monday's incident came just two weeks after airlines temporarily suspended flights to the Haitian capital after gang members opened fire and crashed into a United Nations helicopter flying nearby.
