The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Tuesday that it will ban U.S. airlines from flying to Haiti for 30 days after gangs fired at two planes. Additionally, the United Nations will temporarily stop flights to Port-au-Prince, which will reduce the flow of humanitarian aid to the country.

The Spirit Airlines aircraft was about to land in the country’s capital on Monday when it was struck by bullets, injuring a flight attendant and leading to the shutdown of the airport. Bullet holes are visible throughout an aircraft's interior in the footage obtained by The Associated Press. On the other hand, JetBlue claimed on Tuesday its plane was also shot on Monday while it was leaving Port-au-Prince. The shootings were among the several acts of violence that broke out as the nation, which has been rife with gang violence, swore in its new prime minister following a turbulent election process.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that on Monday, the agency recorded 20 armed clashes and several roadblocks disrupting humanitarian efforts. Port-au-Prince airport will stay closed until November 18, so the UN will reroute flights to Cap-Haitien’s airport in the northern part of the country, where conditions are calmer. Restricted access to Port-au-Prince, the centre of violence, could have devastating effects. Gangs controlling the capital have brought Haiti close to famine. Dujarric warned that stopping flights would limit the delivery of humanitarian aid and prevent aid workers from entering the country.

A convoy of 20 trucks carrying food and medical supplies heading to the south was delayed, and a plan to provide cash assistance to 1,000 people in the Carrefour area, where violence had broken out, was cancelled. We are doing everything we can to continue our operations despite these challenges," he said. We urge an end to the growing violence to allow safe and uninterrupted humanitarian aid. On Tuesday, much of Haiti's capital came to a standstill due to the violence. Armed police in armoured vehicles were stationed outside the airport, checking trucks that passed by.

Schools, banks, and government offices were all closed. The streets, which had seen intense gun battles between gangs and the police just a day earlier, were now eerily quiet, with only a few vehicles passing by, including a motorcycle carrying a man who had been shot. The sound of gunfire could still be heard in the afternoon, reminding everyone that, despite efforts by Haiti's leaders and international support to restore peace, gangs still had a strong grip on much of the country. Neither the former interim prime minister, Garry Conille, nor the newly sworn-in Alix Didier Fils-Aim commented on the violence.

Luis Abinader, the president of the neighbouring Dominican Republic, called the recent shooting at an aeroplane an act of terrorism. He said that countries supporting Haiti should label the armed gangs in the country as terrorist groups. The United Nations estimates that gangs control 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. A mission led by Kenyan police to stop the gang violence is facing challenges due to a lack of funding and personnel, leading to calls for a UN peacekeeping force. This violence follows the decision of a transitional council, which has been working to restore order in Haiti, to fire Prime Minister Conille, who had clashed with the council during his six months in office. The council quickly appointed businessman Fils-Aim as the new interim prime minister.

In a post on the social media site X on Tuesday, Conille confirmed Fils-Aim's appointment after initially denouncing the action as unlawful. (I) wish him success in fulfilling this mission. At this crucial moment, unity and solidarity are essential for our country. Long live Haiti!" he wrote. Fils-Aim promised to collaborate with international partners to restore peace and hold elections, a pledge his predecessor also made.

However, many Haitians, like 43-year-old Martha Jean-Pierre, are tired of the ongoing political struggles, which experts believe only allow gangs to grow stronger and gain more control. Jean-Pierre was one of the people who risked going out on the streets of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to sell plantains, carrots, cabbage and potatoes from a basket on her head. She said she had no choice, as selling was the only way she could feed her children. What good is a new prime minister if there's no security if I can't move freely and sell my goods? she said, nodding to her basket of vegetables. This is my bank account. This is what my family depend on."

The frustration of international groups, like the UN and the US, grew as they pushed for a peaceful solution in Haiti. On Tuesday, the US State Department expressed disappointment that Conille and the council were not able to make progress. They urged Fils-Aimé and the council to create a clear plan for working together to reduce violence and ensure elections are held, in order to avoid more delays. According to a statement, the transitional government must put governance ahead of the conflicting personal interests of political individuals in order to meet the urgent and pressing demands of the Haitian people.