US Extends Haiti Flight Ban as Gang Violence Persists
The FAA has extended its ban on US flights to Port-au-Prince until March 2, citing persistent gang violence and a prior attack on a Spirit Airlines aircraft.
The United States has extended its ban on commercial and civilian flights to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, until March 2. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the latest extension on Tuesday, continuing restrictions first imposed in November 2025.
The ban prohibits US-registered civilian aircraft and commercial operators from flying below 10,000 feet (around 3,000 meters) over Port-au-Prince and parts of central Haiti. The measure effectively isolates the capital from regular air travel.
The restrictions were initially introduced after gunmen fired at a Spirit Airlines flight as it approached Toussaint Louverture International Airport. A flight attendant suffered minor injuries, and several aircraft on the ground were struck by bullets.
The FAA has renewed the ban multiple times since the incident. The ongoing restrictions come as Haitian police and a UN-backed gang suppression force struggle to regain control of the capital, where gangs are estimated to hold sway over roughly 70% of the city and large areas of the central region.