FAA extends ban on flights to Haiti through March
The U.S. banned flights to Haiti after planes trying to land at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, (shown here in 2020) were shot at. Credit: Estailove St-Val
The Federal Aviation Administration has extended the ban on American air carriers flying routes to Haiti or within Haiti’s airspace through March 12, 2025.
The administration originally put a temporary halt followed by a monthlong halt to flights to the embattled half-island Caribbean nation just a month ago, in November, after at least two commercial aircraft were shot at when they attempted to land at Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport. At least one person reported an injury.
Meanwhile, the Haitian government reopened the airport on Dec. 12, and, according to Reuters, had placed new patrols and security checkpoints around the area to protect travelers from gang-related gunfire.
"This decision is part of a strategic approach aimed at restoring a secure environment and relaunching economic activities," the Haitian government said in a statement.
Yet the violence continues. Earlier this week, a gang in Cite Soleil, a neighborhood within Port-au-Prince and located near the airport’s runway, massacred around 180 residents, the majority of whom were elderly.
The U.S. State Department has classified Haiti as a Level 4 safety risk for months, citing a wide list of reasons for travelers not to visit, including the embassy’s limited resources for helping travelers leave.