(TheRedAlertNews.com) – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extended its ban on U.S. flights to Haiti’s capital city until at least September 8, citing grave security risks from armed gangs.
Armed criminals now control large swaths of the Caribbean nation, firing upon commercial flights and causing mass displacement of over one million Haitians.
This extension highlights the catastrophic security collapse as violent gangs extend their reach beyond the capital with apparent impunity.
The FAA initially imposed the ban last November after armed gangs fired on three U.S. commercial airlines flying over Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport.
Under the current restrictions, U.S. air carriers can fly over Port-au-Prince’s airspace. Still, they cannot land without prior FAA authorization, and the ban also encompasses the nearby island of La Gonave.
Major U.S. airlines have indefinitely suspended service to the troubled nation. JetBlue Airways extended its flight suspension until at least June, while American Airlines halted operations indefinitely.
Spirit Airlines has provided no timeline for resuming its Haiti service, effectively shutting down most air traffic to the country’s main international airport.
Meanwhile, the ban has devastated Haiti’s aviation sector, leaving travelers with dangerous alternatives.
Those needing to enter or exit Haiti must either use the smaller international airport in Cap-Haïtien—requiring dangerous ground travel through gang-controlled territories—or pay premium prices for private helicopter transport.
Some relief comes from Sunrise Airways, which continues direct flights between Haiti and Miami using a U.S. charter company, as the ban does not affect U.S.-registered aircraft operated by foreign carriers.
While the FAA has allowed flights to resume to six airports in northern Haiti—Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon, and Jacmel—the situation in Port-au-Prince remains dangerous.
The FAA specifically noted that gangs “possess small arms, including high-caliber rifles and machine guns, posing risks primarily to aircraft on the ground, during low-altitude flight operations and during the approach/departure phases of flight.”
Moreover, the security crisis extends far beyond aviation concerns. United Nations human rights expert William O’Neill reported that gangs are involved in widespread violence, including killings, rapes, and the recruitment of children, often operating with impunity and alleged complicity from powerful actors within Haiti.
Despite efforts by Haiti’s national police and a U.N.-backed Kenya-led multinational police force, the security situation continues to deteriorate.
O’Neill highlighted the glaring disparity in Haiti’s law enforcement capabilities—the country has only 9,000 to 10,000 officers for a population of 11 million, compared to the neighboring Dominican Republic’s much stronger police presence.
The humanitarian toll is staggering, with over one million displaced Haitians facing hunger and sexual violence in makeshift camps.
O’Neill has called for substantially increasing the multinational force to 2,500 well-equipped officers with enhanced mobility capabilities, including helicopters, better vehicles, night vision equipment, and body armor to combat the entrenched gang presence effectively.
As these criminal networks extend beyond urban area strongholds, international agencies must consider strategic logistics, training, and coordination investments to stabilize the region.
The international community stands at a critical juncture, deciding whether to turn the tide against anarchy in Port-au-Prince.
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