A second US airline was strafed by bullets in the skies over Hawaii on Monday.
JetBlue flight 935 from Port-au-Prince to New York City was struck by a bullet shortly after takeoff, around the same time a Spirit Airlines plane was also attacked over the Haitian capital.
A post-flight inspection of the plane at John F Kennedy airport revealed the aircraft exterior had been hit by a bullet, JetBlue said in a statement.
It came after Spirit flight 951 was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic after it was struck by gunfire from gangs over the troubled Caribbean nation.
JetBlue flight 935 was hit by gunfire from gangs as it took off from Haiti on Monday. The above images show an apparent bullet hole on the plane’s fuselage
A post-flight inspection revealed the JetBlue plane had been hit by gunfire. Stock image
Images showed multiple bullet holes both inside the cabin and on the aircraft fuselage.
The Spirit flight headed from Fort Lauderdale to Port-Au-Prince was just hundreds of feet from landing when gangs shot at the plane striking a flight attendant, who suffered minor injuries, according to the airline.
No passengers were injured.
It’s the second and third time in just a few weeks that aircrafts traveling over Haiti’s capital are hit by gunfire from gangs.
Last month a United Nations helicopter was struck by bullets and forced to return to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport as it moved over Port-au-Prince.
Images show bullet holes inside a Spirit Airlines flight that was diverted after it was struck by gunfire as it prepared to land in Haiti on Monday
A passenger shared images of the bullet holes aboard the Spirit Airlines flight
Monday’s incidents prompted US airlines to temporarily suspend operations in Haiti as the country swore in a new interim prime minister who promised to restore peace.
The Federal Aviation Administration is considering banning all US flights to Haiti.
The shooting appeared to be part of what the US Embassy called ‘gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports.’
In other parts of Haiti’s capital, firefights between gangs and police broke out. Rounds of gunfire echoed through the streets as heavily armed officers ducked behind walls and civilians ran in terror. In other upper class areas, gangs set fire to homes. Schools closed as panic spread in a number of areas.
The turmoil comes a day after a council meant to reestablish democratic order in the Caribbean nation fired the interim prime minister Garry Conille, replacing him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. The council has been marked by infighting and three members were recently accused of corruption.
The country has seen weeks of political chaos, which observers warned could result in even more violence in a place where bloodshed has become the new normal. The country’s slate of gangs have long capitalized on political turmoil to make power grabs, shutting down airports, shipping ports and stirring chaos.
The United Nations estimates that gangs control 85 percent of the capital of Port-au-Prince, while a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police to quell gang violence struggles with a lack of funding and personnel, prompting calls for a UN peacekeeping mission.
In September the Department of State urged Americans to avoid visiting Haiti.
A ‘Level Four: Do Not Travel’ advisory for Haiti has been in place since March due to the country’s ongoing civil unrest, gang violence and riots.
The state department said in September that a ‘focal point’ of gang attacks are concentrated at the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the commune of Port-Au-Prince
But on September 18, the US State Department updated the advisory with details about the risk of traveling – including kidnapping, mob violence and armed robberies.
They wrote: ‘Kidnapping is widespread, and US citizens have been victims and have been hurt or killed. Kidnappers may plan carefully or target victims at random, unplanned times. Kidnappers will even target and attack convoys.
‘Kidnapping cases often involve ransom requests. Victims’ families have paid thousands of dollars to rescue their family members.’
They also state that mob violence has escalated leading to an increase in deaths and assaults.
A ‘focal point’ of these attacks are concentrated at the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture in the commune of Port-Au-Prince.
At the international airport, the department said armed robberies and carjackers are probable – often targeting lone drivers and women.
