Spirit Airlines flight diverted to Dominican Republic after being struck by gunfire
Passengers and crew safe after bullet hole discovered in plane
Spirit Airlines flight 717 from Fort Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was diverted to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday after a bullet hole was discovered in the plane.
The plane landed safely at Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, and all 102 passengers and six crew members were unharmed.
Spirit Airlines said in a statement that the plane was struck by gunfire while it was flying over Haiti. The airline said it is working with law enforcement to investigate the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that it is aware of the incident and is investigating.
This is the second time in recent weeks that a Spirit Airlines flight has been diverted after being struck by gunfire. On July 22, a Spirit Airlines flight from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale was diverted to Orlando after a bullet hole was discovered in the plane.
The FAA said it is working with Spirit Airlines to review its security procedures.
In the meantime, the FAA is recommending that airlines take the following steps to protect their aircraft from gunfire:
- Use bullet-resistant windows and doors.
- Install bullet-resistant panels around the cockpit.
- Train pilots and crew members on how to respond to gunfire.
The FAA also recommends that airlines avoid flying over areas where there is a risk of gunfire.
