US extends ban on flights to Haiti's capital as gang violence surges
ABC News US · 2026-09-02
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its ban on U.S. flights to Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, until March 2, 2027, due to persistent gang violence. This ban, implemented on Tuesday, prohibits commercial operators and U.S.-registered civilian aircraft from flying below 10,000 feet in Port-au-Prince and surrounding central Haiti. The FAA first halted such flights in November 2025 after gunmen shot at a Spirit Airlines flight landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, injuring a flight attendant and hitting other planes. This continued flight restriction further isolates Port-au-Prince as police and a U.N.-backed force attempt to suppress gangs controlling an estimated 70% of the capital and significant areas in the central region.