US extends flight ban to Haiti’s capital amid escalating gang violence

The Federal Aviation Administration has extended its ban on US commercial flights to Port-au-Prince until September 3, citing persistent security threats posed by heavily armed gangs operating in the Haitian capital. The decision prolongs restrictions first imposed after aircraft were targeted by gunfire near the city’s main airport.

The aviation regulator initially halted flights in November after a plane operated by Spirit Airlines came under fire while landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport . During the incident, a flight attendant suffered minor injuries and several commercial aircraft parked on the ground were struck by bullets, raising serious concerns about the safety of civil aviation in the region.

In a notice announcing the extension, the FAA said the measure was necessary due to “safety-of-flight risks associated with ongoing instability.” The agency added that pilots may deviate from the ban only in emergencies requiring immediate action.

The restriction applies specifically to Port-au-Prince. However, flights to some other airports in northern Haiti have resumed, while US aircraft are still permitted to fly over the capital at altitudes above 10,000 feet , where the risk of small-arms fire is considered lower.

The suspension has further isolated Haiti , which is already facing a severe political and security crisis. The country has struggled with leadership instability since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse , and national elections have yet to be held, leaving a fragile transitional authority attempting to restore order.

Air travel disruptions have also affected other carriers. Sunrise Airways suspended flights in and out of the capital after a shooting incident involving one of its aircraft.

Security estimates suggest gangs now control about 90 per cent of Port-au-Prince , many operating under the coalition Viv Ansanm . The alliance previously forced the airport’s closure for nearly three months after launching coordinated attacks on government infrastructure, underscoring the scale of Haiti’s deepening crisis.