This Caribbean Airline Canceled Flights After Getting Shot At In The Air

On Sunday, November 23, 2025, a Sunrise Airways flight that was due to arrive in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was struck by gunfire. In response, the airline has suspended all flights to the capital city until further notice. The aircraft was on its final descent when the bullets hit. It was landing at the Guy Malary terminal of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport when it was struck.

Sunrise Airways is a Haitian-owned company that has operated domestic and international flights throughout the Caribbean since 2010. The airline was founded by Philippe Bayard, a former pilot. "Our mission is to create better connections throughout the Caribbean, where every journey is safe, timely, and affordable," the company's website states. Although there hasn't been much information released about the November 23 incident, the company immediately shut down operations. According to reports from the Miami Herald, there were no injuries reported after the shooting.

The decision to suspend flights, "was made in order to protect our passengers, crews, and operations, given the current security situation," said a statement on the airline's website. "We are closely monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and will resume operations as soon as conditions allow."

It's been about a year since the Federal Aviation Administration officially banned flights to Port-au-Prince, a decision that was made in response to shots that were fired at three United States air carriers in November, 2024. JetBlue, Spirit, and American Airlines all had flights that were shot at. One flight attendant was injured during the Spirit attack.

Since then, no United States air carriers or flights operated by United States licensed pilots are permitted to land in the capital city of Haiti, or to fly over it at an elevation below 10,000 feet. In response to the 2024 attacks, the United States Embassy in Haiti said (via BBC) that the attacks were part of "gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince."

The recent attacks on Sunrise Airways occurred in the midst of Haiti's on-going humanitarian crisis. The country was once a popular vacation spot, but people don't visit like they used to because of natural disasters, gang violence, and widespread political corruption. According to the United Nations (via NPR), gangs currently have "near-total control" of Port-au-Prince. The airline aims to reopen when possible, but insists that the safety of passengers and employees are of the utmost importance. "No risks will be taken until all conditions are fully met to operate safely and confidently," the statement on the Sunrise Airways website said.

The U.S. Department of State issued a new Caribbean travel advisory for Haiti earlier this summer, in July 2025 — Level 4: Do Not Travel. The U.S. government advises against all travel to the Caribbean nation. "Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care," the Travel.State.Gov website states. The United Kingdom and Canada also advise against visiting Haiti at this time. 

Travelers with scheduled flights to Port-au-Prince on Sunrise Airways will be notified by a member of the commercial team in order to rebook or opt for a flight credit or refund.

The recent attacks were another major blow to the struggling nation. Flights on Sunrise Airways were one of the few safe and reliable options for travelers hoping to visit Port-au-Prince. Now travelers will be forced to choose between taking the bus — which the Miami Herald called a risk to their lives — or booking a flight on a helicopter. Sadly, Haiti is most definitely one of the nations you should avoid when booking your next Caribbean beach vacation.