Who is Shooting at Planes at the Airport? Transparency Cannot Remain Grounded

Port-au-Prince, November 24, 2025 — The National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) confirmed that a Sunrise Airways aircraft has a bullet-hole-like impact on its structure. While the agency claims operations continue “normally,” Sunrise Airways took a radical step on November 23: the immediate suspension of all flights to and from Port-au-Prince, citing safety concerns. This decision stands in stark contrast to OFNAC’s reassuring tone.

This incident revives a deep-seated malaise: persistent opacity surrounding aviation security. Since the airport’s temporary closure in late 2024, no clear report has been released regarding past strikes on American Airlines, JetBlue, or Spirit Airlines aircraft.

Critical Questions for OFNAC and the PNH:

• Does the presence of 1,100 armed multinational mission members itself constitute a security flaw, exposing civil aircraft to potential friendly or accidental fire?

• Who shot the Sunrise Airways plane, and from which precise zone?

• Was the aircraft hit mid-flight, during landing, or while on the ground?

• How can a civil aircraft be struck in a perimeter that is supposed to be “sterile” and fully secured?

• What do the black boxes and ballistic reports from previous incidents involving U.S. carriers reveal?

Authorities can no longer hide behind superficial technical statements. In a context where every flight feels like an act of faith, transparency is not an option—it is a life-saving necessity.

Brigitte Benshow