Photo: Tarcisio Schnaider / iStock Editorial / Getty Images
A U.S. citizen, Akinyela Sawa Taylor, was shot and killed after hijacking a small Tropic Air plane in Belize on Thursday (April 17). Taylor, a military veteran, brandished a knife during the flight and demanded the pilots take him out of the country, according to Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams. During the incident, Taylor stabbed three people, including the pilot and a passenger who ultimately shot him with a licensed firearm.
The hijacked plane, a Cessna Caravan, was flying from Corozal to San Pedro with 14 passengers on board. The pilot managed to safely land the aircraft outside Belize City after circling the airspace for nearly two hours due to low fuel. The passenger who shot Taylor was critically injured after being stabbed in the back and lungs and was taken to a hospital along with Taylor, who later died from his injuries.
Belizean authorities confirmed that Taylor had been denied entry to the country over the weekend. It remains unclear how he reached Corozal or managed to board the plane with a knife. U.S. officials are collaborating with Belizean authorities to investigate the incident, but Taylor's motive remains unknown. He was identified as a former teacher and football coach in the United States.
Tropic Air Belize CEO Maximillian Greif praised the pilot's actions as "nothing short of heroic" for maintaining calm under pressure and ensuring a safe landing. The U.S. State Department expressed relief that the situation did not escalate into a mass casualty event, given the number of people on board.