JetBlue Suspends Haiti Flights After Plane Struck by Bullet

JetBlue has announced that it will be suspending flights to Haiti through December 2nd after one of its aircraft was recently struck by a bullet.

The incident occurred on November 29th as the plane was preparing to take off from Port-au-Prince. The bullet pierced the plane's fuselage, but there were no injuries to passengers or crew. The aircraft returned to Port-au-Prince International Airport (PAP) without incident.

In a statement, JetBlue said that it "deeply regrets the inconvenience this suspension may cause," but that it is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its customers and crew. The airline said that it will continue to monitor the situation in Haiti and will resume flights as soon as it is safe to do so.

The suspension of flights to Haiti comes at a time of heightened political and social unrest in the country. The Haitian government has been facing widespread protests and calls for the resignation of President Jovenel Moïse. The US State Department has issued a travel advisory for Haiti, warning travelers to "reconsider travel" due to the ongoing unrest.

The bullet strike on the JetBlue aircraft is the latest in a series of incidents involving gunfire at the Port-au-Prince airport. In October, a Haitian police officer was killed and several others were injured in a shooting at the airport. In September, a plane operated by the Haitian airline Sunrise Airways was hit by gunfire as it was landing at PAP.

The Haitian government has vowed to crack down on violence at the airport and has increased security measures. However, the ongoing unrest in the country continues to pose a safety risk for travelers.

For more information on the suspension of JetBlue flights to Haiti, please visit the airline's website.