Cap-Haïtien airport lighting failure disrupts Sunrise Airways flights

A technical failure in the runway lighting system at Cap-Haïtien International Airport caused significant flight disruptions on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Sunrise Airways flight 611, traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Cap-Haïtien, was forced to divert to Miami after the crew realized the airport was approaching its closing time and the runway lights were non-operational.

The incident also resulted in the cancellation of flight 614 from Cap-Haïtien to Miami. Passengers reported delays and a lack of clear communication regarding the flight's status. Some travelers alleged that flight attendants mentioned insufficient oxygen reserves during the delay in Fort Lauderdale.

Reports indicate that the lighting issues at the airport are not new, raising concerns about the maintenance and reliability of Haiti's aviation infrastructure. While the National Airport Authority (AAN) has not issued an official statement, an OFNAC employee noted that the control tower was only notified of the flight's late departure at the last minute, despite known limitations regarding night operations at the facility.