Cap-Haïtien airport faces chaos from deportation flight and service failures

A U.S. deportation flight caused chaos at Cap-Haïtien airport on Thursday night after the number of deportees increased from an initial 71 to over 98 at the last moment. The flight, which departed from Florida, arrived in Haiti under heavy rain after several delays.

Jean Négot Bonheur Delva, coordinator of the Office national de la migration (ONM), reported that the sudden increase in passengers exceeded the initially allocated budget for the operation. Because the airport was closed upon arrival, administrative formalities and criminal background checks had to be completed the following day. Many deportees faced difficulties traveling to their home regions due to road insecurity.

Separately, travelers at Cap-Haïtien are expressing growing frustration over the deteriorating quality of civil aviation services. Passengers have reported frequent flight cancellations, delays, and lost luggage, citing a lack of communication from both airlines and aviation authorities. These service issues occur amidst broader national challenges, including armed groups controlling major roads and insecurity in maritime travel.