Zed Airlines has grounded its fleet and suspended operations involving Haiti after two of its aircraft were struck by gunfire during approaches to Port au Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, intensifying global concern about aviation safety in the Caribbean nation and highlighting the growing risks that gang violence poses to commercial aviation.

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Gunfire Incident Forces Sudden Halt to Zed Airlines Flights

Zed Airlines, a Haiti based carrier that has been a key link between Port au Prince and Brazil, confirmed that two of its planes were hit by gunfire while attempting to land at Toussaint Louverture International Airport on January 25, 2026. The aircraft were on final approach when bullets struck their fuselages, prompting immediate emergency procedures from flight crews and a rapid response on the ground.

According to the airline’s initial statement carried by regional travel news outlets, no passengers or crew members were injured, and both aircraft were able to land safely. However, visible damage consistent with small arms fire was discovered during post flight inspections, triggering technical assessments and a full internal safety review. The company has not disclosed detailed information about the extent of the damage but characterized the event as a “serious and deliberate attack” on civil aviation.

In the hours after the incident, Zed Airlines announced it was suspending all flights involving Port au Prince and halting its Haiti Brazil services until further notice. Executives framed the decision as a necessary precaution, arguing that the carrier could not continue to operate in an environment where aircraft on approach were exposed to uncontrolled gunfire from the ground.

Growing Pattern of Attacks on Aircraft in Haitian Airspace

The attack on Zed Airlines aircraft did not occur in isolation. It is the latest in a string of incidents over the past 18 months in which commercial planes approaching or departing from Port au Prince have been hit or grazed by bullets linked to gang activity in neighborhoods surrounding the airport perimeter. In November 2024, aircraft operated by Spirit Airlines, JetBlue and American Airlines were all struck by suspected gang gunfire as they approached Toussaint Louverture International Airport, incidents that led the United States Federal Aviation Administration to impose an emergency 30 day ban on flights to Haiti and to prohibit U.S. civil aviation from flying below 10,000 feet in designated Haitian airspace.

That initial emergency order was later relaxed for some secondary airports, but restrictions around Port au Prince remained, and U.S. authorities eventually extended prohibitions and advisories as violence persisted near the capital. A United Nations helicopter carrying personnel was also hit by gunfire in a separate case, though it landed safely without injuries. In late 2025, Sunrise Airways, a Haiti based carrier, halted domestic and international flights from Port au Prince after one of its own aircraft was reportedly hit by gunfire while landing, echoing the same pattern now faced by Zed Airlines.

Aviation analysts say the Zed incident confirms that the risk to low flying aircraft in Haitian airspace has not been contained despite international pressure and repeated warnings from regulators. They argue that the proximity of active armed groups to key flight paths, combined with the lack of effective perimeter security, has turned approaches to the country’s main airport into an unacceptable hazard for carriers and their insurers.

Immediate Response from Haitian Aviation Authorities

Haiti’s National Civil Aviation Office and the National Airport Authority issued a joint statement after the gunfire incident, condemning what they described as an attack that endangered passengers, crew and the integrity of Haitian airspace. The agencies confirmed that technical teams and emergency responders were dispatched to the affected aircraft and that a formal investigation had been opened in coordination with national security bodies.

Officials said security forces had been alerted and that efforts were under way to identify those responsible, but they provided no details on whether shots were believed to have come from gangs positioned in districts bordering the airport or from other armed actors. The agencies urged airlines to share data from flight recorders, radar tracks and cockpit reports to help reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the shootings and to inform possible changes to approach procedures.

Despite the strong rhetoric, many aviation experts and industry observers remain skeptical about how much the authorities can realistically do without a broader turnaround in Haiti’s security environment. Control of several key roads and neighborhoods near ports and the airport has shifted repeatedly between rival armed groups, and previous attempts to secure ground routes for airline staff and passengers have been disrupted by kidnappings, blockades and sporadic firefights.

Zed Airlines’ decision to ground flights is expected to have an immediate effect on travelers who rely on the carrier to connect Haiti with Brazil, including participants in Brazil’s family reunification and humanitarian admission programs. For many Haitians, especially those living in the Brazilian cities that host large diaspora communities, Zed had become one of the few practical and relatively affordable options to travel between the two countries.

The suspension adds further strain to Haiti’s already fragile air connectivity. With major U.S. airlines having previously pulled back from Port au Prince and domestic carrier Sunrise Airways curtailing operations because of similar safety fears, Haiti has seen its links to the wider region shrink sharply. Travel agents report mounting uncertainty among passengers who must now reroute journeys through the Dominican Republic or other Caribbean hubs, often at significantly higher cost and with complex overland segments.

Humanitarian organizations warn that the erosion of commercial air service could also complicate the movement of aid workers, medical specialists and critical supplies. Although United Nations and charter flights continue to operate under strict security protocols, the loss of commercial capacity means fewer seats for emergency evacuations and higher logistical costs at a time when Haiti is facing a deepening humanitarian and political crisis.

Airlines, Insurers and the Economics of Risk in Haiti

The Zed Airlines grounding highlights a difficult calculus facing carriers and their insurers. Aviation insurance providers have increasingly flagged Port au Prince as a high risk destination, and each new incident of gunfire or airport disruption pushes premiums higher while raising questions about coverage in the event of a catastrophic loss. Some industry consultants say underwriters may soon classify approaches into the Haitian capital as comparable to flying into an active conflict zone, a designation that could make scheduled commercial operations economically unviable for all but state backed or humanitarian flights.

For airlines, the challenges go beyond insurance costs. Carriers must weigh their legal and moral obligations to protect passengers and crew against the economic importance of maintaining routes that serve vulnerable populations and key diaspora markets. In Zed’s case, the decision to suspend services was framed as a safety first measure, but it will also deprive the airline of a core revenue stream and could jeopardize jobs for flight crews, maintenance personnel and ground staff in both Haiti and Brazil.

Analysts note that while some routes could, in theory, be reconfigured to use alternative airports away from Port au Prince, such as Cap Haïtien or other regional airfields, these facilities often lack the infrastructure, runway length or international connections required for large scale commercial operations. Moreover, overland connections from these secondary airports to the capital remain vulnerable to roadblocks and ambushes, limiting their usefulness as substitutes for Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

International Pressure for Security Reforms and Support

The latest gunfire incident is certain to add urgency to international discussions about how to support Haiti’s authorities in securing critical infrastructure, including airports, seaports and major highways. Previous episodes in which aircraft were hit by bullets near Port au Prince prompted condemnations from foreign governments and calls from aviation bodies for stronger coordination between airport operators, police, the military and international partners.

Diplomats and security experts have floated a range of possible measures, from expanded perimeter fencing, radar and surveillance systems to targeted security operations aimed at dislodging armed groups from neighborhoods adjacent to flight paths. Others argue that without a broader political settlement and sustained efforts to dismantle criminal networks, such technical fixes will offer only temporary relief. The complexity of Haiti’s crisis, which encompasses political deadlock, economic hardship and chronic institutional weakness, has slowed progress on many of these fronts.

Regional governments are also watching closely, particularly those whose airlines or diaspora communities depend on safe access to Haitian airports. Caribbean and Latin American aviation regulators have increasingly relied on advisories and operational reviews to guide carriers, but the Zed episode may prompt more explicit restrictions or joint assessments of risk. For now, many in the aviation community say they are waiting to see whether Haitian authorities can demonstrate tangible improvements in airport security before traffic patterns normalize.

What the Zed Airlines Grounding Means for Haiti’s Aviation Future

The grounding of Zed Airlines flights underscores a sobering reality for Haiti’s aviation sector. After years of intermittent disruption, the latest attack suggests that the country is at risk of becoming even more isolated from global air networks if the security situation around key airports cannot be stabilized. With multiple carriers already having scaled back or suspended operations, airlines are reaching a tipping point at which the reputational damage and operational hazards outweigh the commercial benefits of serving the market.

For travelers and businesses, that could translate into prolonged uncertainty and chronic under connectivity. Tour operators that had hoped to revive niche tourism in relatively calmer regions of Haiti now face additional obstacles, while local companies dependent on timely air freight for imports and exports confront higher costs and less reliable schedules. The aviation turbulence has also become a symbol of the country’s wider instability, feeding negative perceptions abroad and discouraging investment in infrastructure and services.

Still, some experts note that Haiti’s strategic location in the Caribbean and the resilience of its diaspora communities mean there will be ongoing demand for safe, reliable air links. If security conditions improve and concrete steps are taken to protect aircraft and passengers, there may be opportunities for carriers like Zed, Sunrise and regional partners to gradually rebuild routes. For the moment, however, the focus remains on immediate safety, and the Zed Airlines incident has reinforced the message that no airline can ignore the growing dangers on the ground.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly happened to Zed Airlines in Haiti?
Zed Airlines reported that two of its aircraft were struck by gunfire while on approach to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port au Prince on January 25, 2026, prompting the carrier to ground affected planes and suspend operations involving Haiti.

Q2. Were any passengers or crew injured in the gunfire incident?
According to the airline’s statements and early reports, no passengers or crew members were injured. The aircraft involved were able to land safely before damage from the bullets was discovered during inspections.

Q3. Are all Zed Airlines flights canceled?
Zed Airlines has suspended flights involving Haiti, including its high profile routes linking Port au Prince and Brazil. The airline has characterized the suspension as being in effect until further notice, pending safety assessments and security developments.

Q4. Why are planes in Haitian airspace being hit by gunfire?
Security analysts attribute the incidents to gang related violence and armed groups operating near the approach and departure corridors of Port au Prince’s main airport. These groups often control nearby neighborhoods and major roadways, creating a dangerous environment for low flying aircraft.

Q5. How have aviation authorities responded to the latest incident?
Haiti’s National Civil Aviation Office and National Airport Authority have condemned the attack, launched an investigation and coordinated with national security forces. International regulators are monitoring developments closely and may update advisories or restrictions based on the findings.

Q6. What does this mean for travelers trying to reach or leave Haiti?
The grounding of Zed Airlines flights adds to an ongoing reduction in commercial air options. Many travelers now have to route through neighboring countries, particularly the Dominican Republic, and then make long and sometimes risky overland journeys to reach Haiti’s capital.

Q7. Are other airlines still flying to Port au Prince?
Several international and regional carriers had already reduced or suspended services to Port au Prince following earlier gunfire incidents and security alerts. Some domestic and charter flights continue under strict protocols, but overall capacity to the capital remains sharply limited.

Q8. How does this affect humanitarian and aid operations?
Humanitarian organizations rely heavily on both commercial and charter flights to move staff, medical teams and supplies. With fewer commercial seats available and higher operating risks, aid groups face rising costs and logistical challenges in sustaining their presence in Haiti.

Q9. Could flights be shifted to other airports in Haiti to improve safety?
Some experts have suggested using alternative airports such as Cap Haïtien for international operations. However, these facilities often lack the infrastructure and connectivity of the capital’s airport, and ground routes from secondary airports to Port au Prince are themselves exposed to security threats.

Q10. When might Zed Airlines resume normal operations?
Zed Airlines has not provided a specific timeline for resuming flights. Any decision is likely to depend on the outcome of investigations, assurances from Haitian and international authorities about airport security, and the willingness of insurers to continue covering operations in Haitian airspace.