American citizen killed by passenger while trying to hijack plane in Belize

David Matthews, New York Daily News on Apr 17, 2025

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An American citizen was shot and killed by a passenger Thursday during his attempt to hijack a plane in Belize.

The incident occurred aboard a Tropic Air Belize flight with 13 other passengers onboard when Akinyela Sawa Taylor tried to take over the aircraft at knifepoint after it took off from Corozal toward Belize City.

He demanded more fuel for the plane and to be taken out of the country, according to police. Taylor had previously been refused entry to Belize and it remains under investigation how he boarded the plane.

As the flight circled while depleting fuel, a Belizean passenger carrying a licensed gun shot Taylor in the chest, local police said, according to ABC News. That person remains in critical condition after being stabbed in the back and lungs.

Two others also suffered knife wounds in the chaos, though their current conditions are unclear.

The plane landed safely nearly two hours later at an airport just outside Belize City, and was moments from running out of fuel, officials said.

“Earlier today, a Tropic Air flight faced a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency,” Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif said in a statement. “In the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing. His actions were nothing short of heroic.”

Belize Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told local journalists the plane was followed by a helicopter in case a quick rescue operation needed to be mounted in the event of a crash.

The U.S. Embassy in Belize said it was working with local officials in their investigation.