A U.S. citizen named Akinyela Sawa Taylor allegedly attempted to hijack a Tropic Air Belize plane at knifepoint on Thursday, April 17, leaving three passengers injured. According to ABC News, the incident reportedly unfolded while thirteen other passengers were on board.
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Details On U.S. Citizen’s Alleged Belize Plane Hijack Attempt
PEOPLE states that Akinyela Sawa Taylor allegedly hijacked the plane around 8:30 a.m., just before takeoff. He was reportedly demanding more fuel to leave Belize at the time. Instead of escaping, the plane circled for hours before finally landing at Ladyville Airport. ABC News says that Taylor tried to enter Belize over the weekend but was turned away. Officials are still trying to figure out how he managed to make it into the country.
As reported by PEOPLE, during the chaos, Taylor allegedly stabbed two passengers — Fitzgerald Brown and Jair Castañeda — as well as the pilot, Howell Grange. All three survived the attack and were later airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Authorities still haven’t figured out how Taylor managed to board the plane with a knife.
U.S. State Department & Belize Commissioner Address Hijacking Incident
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the incident during an April 17 news briefing. She described it as horrifying and expressed gratitude that matters did not escalate into a tragedy.
“We are grateful, I think all of us are, that that did not turn into a mass casualty event with, I believe, over a dozen people on the plane. Clearly, we know a few details. We don’t know much more,” Bruce said.
Tropic Air Belize CEO Maximilian Grief also spoke on the matter, praising the pilot for his heroic actions in handling the situation.
“Our pilots undergo rigorous training to respond effectively and efficiently to any situation, and today we pause to recognize the bravery, skill, and leadership that brought our aircraft home safely,” Greif explained.
More About Akinyela Sawa Taylor
According to AP News, a passenger who had a license to carry a firearm shot Akinyela Sawa Taylor during the incident. Medical staffers later transported him to a hospital, but Newsweek reports that he died before arrival.
Taylor reportedly previously served in the military and worked as a football coach at McCluer North High School in Florissant, Missouri, according to Reuters.
