A Spirit Airlines flight destined for the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince was struck by gunfire on Monday, forcing it to be diverted to the neighbouring Dominican Republic.

Haiti's main airport also temporarily shut down Monday as gangs attempted to seize control, the U.S. embassy reported, the same day a new interim prime minister was expected to take over the direction of a country facing a surge of violence.

Firefights between gangs and police broke out in parts of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, with heavily armed officers ducking behind walls as civilians ran in terror. In other upper-class neighbourhoods, gangs set fire to homes.

The United States Embassy in Haiti issued a travel warning saying that the city's airport was shut down due to "gang-led efforts to block travel to and from Port-au-Prince which may include armed violence, and disruptions to roads, ports, and airports."

"The U.S. Embassy is aware of a temporary pause in operations at the Touissant L'Overture airport as of Nov. 11," the embassy's statement said. "The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous."

Several airlines cancel flights

The warning comes after reports that gangs shot at a Spirit airline flight and photos shared with media showing bullet holes in the plane, though The Associated Press was not able to immediately confirm the incident with authorities.

A video circulating on social media, which appears to have been taken by a Spirit employee but which Reuters was unable to immediately verify, shows where a bullet had come through near the back exit door to then strike the overhead bin across the aisle.

Spirit said in a statement that the plane had been damaged and taken out of commission upon landing in the northern Dominican city of Santiago. The passengers aboard the Spirit flight on Monday will be taken back in another aircraft to Fort Lauderdale, where the flight departed from, Spirit said.

The airline also said it had suspended flights to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien, in Haiti's north, "pending further evaluation."

JetBlue and American Airlines will cancel flights through Thursday, the airlines said separately, and will monitor  the situation to determine whether more cancellations may be needed.

The turmoil comes a day after a council meant to re-establish democratic order in the Caribbean nation fired the interim prime minister, Garry Conille, who was at odds with the council, replacing him with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aime.

The council has been marked by infighting and three members were recently accused of corruption.

Armed gangs in Haiti's capital have shot at aircraft in recent weeks as the security situation deteriorates. Last month, a United Nations helicopter was hit by gunfire over Port-au-Prince.