The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its ban on U.S. flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, through September 8th, citing ongoing risks from armed gangs. This extension comes after a temporary halt on all flights to Haiti was implemented in November, following incidents where three U.S. commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire.
While the FAA has allowed flights to resume at six airports in northern Haiti, the agency remains concerned about the presence of armed gangs in Port-au-Prince. These gangs have used small arms to fire on civilian aircraft, helicopters, and airports, causing damage and injuring an aircrew member.
The FAA emphasizes that these gangs possess high-caliber rifles and machine guns, posing a significant threat to aircraft, particularly during takeoff, landing, and low-altitude operations. As a result, U.S. planes are only permitted to transit over Port-au-Prince at altitudes above 10,000 feet.
5 Comments
ZmeeLove
As a frequent flyer, I'm grateful the FAA takes these threats seriously and doesn't put my life at risk for the sake of convenience. 🙏
Muchacho
I commend the FAA for taking decisive action to protect passengers and crew. Hopefully, this will send a strong message to the gangs and help bring an end to the violence. 🙏
Coccinella
This ban is not a punishment, it's a precaution. I'd rather have my flight delayed than be caught in the crossfire. ✈️
Bella Ciao
The FAA is not saying Haitians are the problem. They're just acknowledging the dangerous reality on the ground. This is about protecting lives, not politics. 🌎
Muchacha
So the FAA is basically saying 'tough luck' to Haitians and Americans in Port-au-Prince? This is just unfair and discriminatory. 👎