Key facts
- The FAA has extended a ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, until March 2.
- The ban was implemented due to persistent gang violence and the risk of attacks on aircraft.
- The initial ban followed an incident in November 2025 where a Spirit Airlines flight was shot at during landing.
- The FAA noted that gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince and have access to small arms and drones.
- The ban now covers areas beyond the capital, including the Artibonite and Centre departments.
- Commercial flights remain isolated from Port-au-Prince, with only private air transportation available for those who can afford it.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended a ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, until March 2, 2026, due to ongoing gang violence and the risk of attacks on aircraft. The ban restricts commercial operators and U.S.-registered civilian aircraft from flying below 10,000 feet in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, including parts of central Haiti.
The FAA first implemented the ban in November 2025 after gunmen fired upon a Spirit Airlines flight as it was landing at Toussaint Louverture International Airport. A flight attendant sustained minor injuries, and other commercial planes on the ground were also hit. The ban has been extended multiple times since this incident, effectively isolating the capital.
According to the FAA, Haitian gangs now control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, as well as nearby strategic routes and border areas. The agency noted that these gangs possess small arms and unmanned aircraft systems capable of threatening low-altitude flights. The ban has also been expanded to include the Artibonite and Centre departments north of the capital, where gangs have increasingly attacked infrastructure.
In May, a powerful gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. This coalition had previously forced the closure of Port-au-Prince's main international airport for nearly three months last year after launching coordinated attacks. While the airport reopened in May, gang violence in the vicinity has persisted. Sunrise Airways, a domestic carrier, also halted flights to and from Port-au-Prince in late November following a shooting incident involving an aircraft.
For those who can afford it, travel in and out of Port-au-Prince is limited to helicopters or other private air transportation, as heavily armed gangs control the main roads and are known to pose risks to ground transportation.