A Belgian military transport aircraft has come under fire during a mission in Haiti, sustaining bullet damage but landing safely afterwards. The incident was first reported by Belgian daily newspaper HLN and broadcast VTM Nieuws, and later confirmed by the Belgian Ministry of Defence.
The aircraft, an Airbus A400M Atlas operated by the Belgian Air Force’s 15th Air Transport Wing, was carrying approximately 80 soldiers from Chad as part of a United Nations support mission.
Mission under fire near Port-au-Prince
The incident occurred on Sunday during a flight from Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, to Port-au-Prince. The mission aimed to transport Chadian troops into Haiti to reinforce the international presence amid ongoing instability.
After successfully dropping off the personnel, the aircraft departed Haiti and returned to Santo Domingo. It was only after landing that damage from gunfire was discovered.
According to Defence, the aircraft sustained at least two bullet impacts — one on the tail section and another on an engine. Despite the damage, all flight parameters had remained normal during the operation, and no injuries were reported among crew or passengers.
Elevated threat environment
Initial assessments suggest the aircraft was likely hit shortly before landing in Port-au-Prince. The mission had already been classified as high-risk, with crews instructed to minimise ground time due to the volatile security situation.
As a precaution, a second planned flight into Haiti was cancelled following the incident.
Temporary repairs were carried out in Santo Domingo, allowing the aircraft to safely return to its home base at Melsbroek.
Growing instability in Haiti
The incident underscores the deteriorating security environment in Haiti, where armed groups continue to clash with security forces. The situation has prompted increased international involvement, including support missions coordinated by the United Nations.
Belgium’s A400M deployment formed part of a broader operational programme, which also included participation in a Tactical Air Insertion training exercise in Blythe, United States. During that exercise, the aircraft supported parachute operations and the delivery of military equipment.