海地国家民航办公室(OFNAC)告诉ABC新闻,一架从佛罗里达州劳德代尔堡飞往海地的精神航空公司飞机在试图降落在太子港时被炮火击中,被迫改道。
OFNAC说,这架飞机在试图降落在首都太子港的Touissant Louverture机场时被炮火击中四次。
精神航空公司周一在一份声明中说,精神航空公司的飞机“转向并安全降落在多米尼加共和国的圣地亚哥”,并补充说,没有乘客报告受伤,飞机上的一名空乘人员报告说受了未指明的“轻伤”,正在接受医疗评估。
根据FlightRadar24的数据,飞机在中止降落并转向多米尼加共和国之前,来到了距离跑道550英尺的地方。
飞机抵达多米尼加共和国后,“检查发现飞机受损的证据与炮火一致,”精神航空公司的声明说。声明补充说,这架飞机被停用,另一架飞机被安全送回劳德代尔堡的乘客和机组人员。
美国联邦航空管理局(FAA)在一份声明中证实,精神航空公司的航班安全降落在多米尼加共和国,“据报道,飞机在试图降落时被炮火损坏”在太子港机场。
美国联邦航空局在声明中表示,另外两架飞往图桑·卢维杜尔机场的航班也“作为预防措施”被转移,并补充说该机场现已关闭。
OFNAC告诉ABC新闻,所有航空公司都暂停了Touissant Louverture机场的航班。
美国航空公司和捷蓝航空公司周一发表声明,宣布至少在周四之前暂停飞往海地的航班。
美国驻海地大使馆发布安全警报称,它“意识到帮派领导的阻止进出太子港的努力,其中可能包括武装暴力,以及对道路、港口和机场的破坏。”
“海地的安全局势是不可预测和危险的,”大使馆的警报继续说,并进一步指出,“美国政府不能保证你前往机场、边境或任何后续旅行的安全。在海地的任何地方旅行之前,你都应该考虑你的个人安全状况。”
Spirit Airlines plane struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Haiti
A Spirit Airlines plane flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Haiti was diverted after it was struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) told ABC News.
The plane was struck by gunfire four times while attempting to land at Touissant Louverture Airport in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, OFNAC said.
The Spirit Airlines plane "diverted and landed safely in Santiago, Dominican Republic," Spirit Airlines said in a statement Monday, adding that no passengers reported injuries and one flight attendant onboard the plane reported unspecified "minor injuries" and was undergoing medical evaluation.
The plane came within 550 feet of the runway before aborting its landing and diverting to the Dominican Republic, according to data on FlightRadar24.
After the plane arrived in the Dominican Republic, "an inspection revealed evidence of damage to the aircraft consistent with gunfire," the Spirit Airlines statement said. The plane was taken out of service and a different aircraft was secured to return the passengers and crew to Fort Lauderdale, the statement added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed in a statement that the Spirit Airlines flight landed safely in the Dominican Republic "after the plane was reportedly damaged by gunfire while trying to land" at the Port-au-Prince airport.
Two other flights headed for Toussaint Louverture Airport were also diverted "as a precaution," the FAA said in its statement, adding that the airport was now closed.
All airlines have temporarily suspended flights at Touissant Louverture Airport, OFNAC told ABC News.
American Airlines and JetBlue issued statements Monday announcing that they had suspended flights into Haiti until at least Thursday.
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert saying that it was "aware of gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports."
"The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous," the embassy alert continued, further noting that "The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti."