A U.S. citizen and military veteran, identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, was shot and killed after hijacking a small plane in Belize at knifepoint and stabbing three people on board. The hijacked plane, operated by Tropic Air, circled the coast of Belize City before landing safely at a nearby airport. The pilot, who was also stabbed during the incident, managed to land the aircraft outside of Belize City despite being forced to fly a circuitous route.
The motive for Taylor’s hijacking remains unclear, as U.S. officials are working with Belizean authorities to investigate the incident. Taylor had been denied entry into the country over the weekend and it is unknown how he was able to board the plane with a knife. The passenger who fatally shot Taylor with a licensed firearm was himself stabbed and remains in critical condition.
The heroic actions of the pilot were praised by Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif, who commended the pilot for landing the plane safely under immense pressure. The U.S. embassy in Belize has stated that they have no information on Taylor’s background or motive at this time. It was reported that Taylor was a teacher in the United States.
The incident has raised questions about security at smaller airstrips in Belize, as investigators were not immediately aware of how Taylor was able to board the plane with a weapon. The investigation into the hijacking and subsequent events is ongoing.
