U.S. man hijacks plane in Belize, passenger shoots him dead

On April 17, 2025, an incident occurred at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize, where Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen, hijacked a small plane. The Tropic Air Belize flight was preparing to take off with 14 passengers onboard, including tourists. Taylor reportedly demanded to be taken out of the country and requested more fuel for the aircraft, brandishing a knife and injuring three individuals, including the pilot. As the situation escalated, the aircraft circled the area for approximately two hours due to fuel concerns. Eventually, one of the wounded passengers, armed with a licensed firearm, shot Taylor in the chest, resulting in his death. After the emergency declaration was made, the aircraft successfully landed at the airport, where authorities were ready to respond. The police were later informed about the hijacking via text updates from a passenger still on board during the crisis. Belizean officials praised the actions of the passenger who intervened and shot the hijacker, referring to him as a hero. The U.S. State Department and the Belizean authorities began collaborating on the investigation to understand the motives behind Taylor's actions and how he had managed to bring a knife onto the plane. Authorities confirmed that the suspect had been previously denied entry into the country and were also probing the entry points of security failures surrounding this incident.