Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has shared a post highlighting a Colombian Air Force flight transporting Salvadoran personnel and equipment from San Salvador to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as El Salvador expands its participation in an international security effort against armed gangs.
The flight, identified as FAC1005, forms part of the logistical support for El Salvador’s deployment to Haiti. Approximately 1,000 Salvadoran soldiers have reportedly been sent to the Caribbean nation following the disappearance of four Salvadoran personnel during a gang ambush on October 18, 2026. U.S. military C-130 aircraft have also contributed to troop transportation.
The four missing Salvadorans were aviation technicians serving with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force. They disappeared after an armored vehicle was attacked near Port-au-Prince, prompting Bukele to announce a dedicated rescue operation.
El Salvador’s expanded deployment comes as Haitian authorities and international partners face persistent challenges in confronting armed groups that control significant areas of the capital. The Gang Suppression Force is working alongside Haitian security personnel to counter gang activity.
The Colombian flight underscores the regional logistical cooperation supporting El Salvador’s mission. The immediate priority remains locating the four missing Salvadorans and determining their fate.