The decision comes after a Spirit Airlines plane was struck by gunfire and forced to reroute to the Dominican Republic. As a result of escalating gang violence, Haiti has been cut off from the rest of the world.

On Tuesday, U.S. aviation authorities imposed a one-month prohibition on all civilian flights to Haiti. This action follows an incident on Monday, in which a Spirit Airlines jet arriving from Florida was targeted by gunfire while approaching the capital, Port-au-Prince. The incident occurred amidst the appointment of a new prime minister in a nation already engulfed in a violent gang conflict.

Following the shooting, the flight was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic. One flight attendant sustained minor injuries, and the airport was temporarily closed, severing Haiti’s main link to international travel.

In response, Haiti's unelected transitional council condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the nation's sovereignty and security, intended to isolate Haiti on the global stage. “The perpetrators of these heinous acts will be hunted down and brought to justice,” the council stated.

The incident has had a profound impact on daily life in Port-au-Prince. Many businesses and schools shut down due to fears of further attacks, and residents are on high alert as powerful gangs, which control roughly 80 percent of the city, pose a constant threat.

The new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, was sworn in on Monday, succeeding Garry Conille, who had held office since May. Conille’s term was marred by a struggle for power with the transitional council. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, Haiti has faced ongoing political instability and a lack of an elected president, further exacerbating the country's challenges.