Flight ban strains humanitarian efforts and frustrates Haitians trying to fly home

All travel between the U.S. and Haiti, including much-needed aid operations, continues to be impacted by a 30-day ban imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration last week, after gunfire struck a Spirit Airlines plane as it attempted to land in Port-au-Prince. 

Linda Thelemaque regularly travels to the southern city of Les Cayes in her role as chief program officer of Hope for Haiti, a nonprofit organization that helps combat poverty. She said the inability to fly in supplies has created a logistical nightmare in the Caribbean nation, where gang violence already makes ground transportation between cities nearly impossible.  

“We’ve been dealing with severe challenges due to gang violence, which has essentially cut off ground transportation,” Thelemaque said. “Now, with flights canceled, we’re facing increased costs and delays in delivering essential supplies, including $10 million worth of medication.”  

Thelemaque had planned to travel to Haiti for work on Nov. 19, but her flight was canceled. “Although the FAA says the ban will lift on Dec. 12, most airlines are rescheduling flights for February,” she said. 

The FAA ban has also complicated humanitarian aid efforts. “We rely on Sunrise Airways to transport supplies from Port-au-Prince to the south, but with flights grounded, we’re forced to explore expensive alternatives, like chartering flights or seeking humanitarian exemptions,” she said.  

In a statement to NBC News, American Airlines said it had suspended its daily flights between Miami and Port-au-Prince until Feb. 12, 2025 after a separate incident involving flight 819 from Port-au-Prince to Miami last week. While the flight landed safely in Miami with no reported injuries, a post-flight inspection revealed that a bullet had struck the aircraft’s exterior. 

Before the FAA’s ban announcement, the U.S. State Department had issued an advisory to avoid traveling to Haiti due to “kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care.” The department noted that airports and people traveling by car had become targets for violence. 

In March, escalating gang violence and unrest reached a boiling point as the Caribbean nation’s government fell apart. Armed groups took over the streets, disrupting life for many residents across Port-au-Prince and driving up the cost of fuel and basic goods. “Prices are being passed on to consumers, making daily survival increasingly unaffordable,” Thelemaque said.  

Yolette Williams, CEO of the Haitian American Alliance of New York, said the country’s ongoing crisis has taken an emotional toll on Haitians living in the United States. 

“We may be physically far from Haiti, but we remain deeply connected,” she said. “Families are consumed by the news of worsening violence and are mourning senseless killings.”  

The flight ban is also disrupting long-standing holiday traditions in this mostly Catholic and Christian country. Jan. 1 also holds special significance beyond New Year’s Day, as it is also Haitian Independence Day and celebrated with parades, fireworks and dancing..

“Many Haitians save their vacations for December to reconnect with loved ones,” Williams said. “Now, that opportunity has been taken away.”  

Williams noted that the ban extends beyond Port-au-Prince to airports throughout the country, further isolating Haitians. “Even during ongoing crises, people could travel to Cap-Haïtien or Les Cayes. Now the whole country feels shut down,” she said.  

Another way to enter Haiti is by crossing through the Dominican Republic, with whom it shares the island. Haitian passport-holders with U.S. permanent residency often traveled through the DR but the country has closed its borders with Haiti due to the violence.  

“Even if a flight diverts to the Dominican Republic, Haitian passport-holders are denied entry,” Williams said. “Some passengers have had to return to Europe or elsewhere.”  

The U.N. reported that more than 20,000 people fled their homes in Port-au-Prince in a four-day span in November and settled in smaller cities. This has strained resources in cities like Les Cayes.  

“The influx of displaced residents is overwhelming clinics and creating mistrust between locals and newcomers,” Thelemaque said.  

Williams emphasized the growing mental health crisis in Haiti, citing a recent survey by Haitian-led organizations. “The constant trauma of gang violence is taking a toll on people’s emotional well-being,” she said.  

Even those in less-affected areas remain under stress, she said. “Whether you’re in Cap-Haïtien or Les Cayes, you worry about being next,” Williams said. “The trauma is pervasive, and the travel ban only adds to that stress.”  

Both Thelemaque and Williams agree that the FAA ban, while necessary for safety, underscores the urgent need to address Haiti’s escalating crisis.  

“We’re doing everything we can to adapt,” Thelemaque said. “Whether it’s securing humanitarian exemptions or finding new supply routes, the people we serve rely on us.”  

Williams called for continued advocacy. “The diaspora wants to help, but the barriers are immense,” she said. “We must address not only the immediate needs but also the root causes of this violence.”