Spirit Airlines suspends flights to Haiti after gunfire hits helicopter

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Spirit Airlines has temporarily suspended flights to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince after gunfire struck a U.N. helicopter near the country's main airport.

The airline, which operates a daily flight from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, announced the suspension would last through October 27, citing safety concerns for passengers and staff.

This decision follows an incident when gang members opened fire on a U.N. Humanitarian Air Service helicopter shortly after it departed from Port-au-Prince airport. The helicopter, carrying three crew members and 15 passengers, was forced to make an emergency landing. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the aircraft landed safely, according to the World Food Program.

Gang violence has surged across Haiti in recent days, particularly in the capital, exacerbating an already dire security situation. The violence has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police, which was deployed to help stabilize the country. Thousands have been killed or injured this year, and the escalating gang warfare has displaced more than 700,000 people.

"There's a lot that needs to be done to give hope," Leslie Voltaire, president of Haiti's transitional presidential council, said at a press conference. "I am not satisfied. Right now, there are no results. We should do more to improve people's lives."

U.S. and Haitian officials, including Voltaire, have called for the Kenyan-led mission to be replaced with a larger, better-funded U.N. peacekeeping force.

Earlier this year, gang violence forced the temporary closure of Haiti's main international airport, underscoring the ongoing threat to public safety and infrastructure. The latest incident involving the U.N. helicopter has only deepened concerns about the ability to contain the violence and restore order in the country.