A hijacking incident on a small passenger plane in Belize has left one person dead and two injured. Akinyela Sawa Taylor, identified as the hijacker, took control of the flight at knifepoint with 14 passengers on board. Two people were hurt, including one who was stabbed in the back.
Taylor ordered the pilot to take him out of the country but was shot in the chest by another passenger before landing safely at Philip Goldson International Airport. Taylor died from his injuries, while the injured passengers received medical attention.
Passengers narrowly escaped a more severe tragedy when the aircraft ran out of fuel during the ordeal. Police deployed to various airports and a rescue helicopter tracked the plane as it landed without incident. Belizean authorities will review security procedures for domestic flights following the incident.
The US embassy confirmed that it is working with Belize to investigate the incident, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring the safety of tourists, airlines, borders, and passengers in the country.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/17/belize-hijacking-plane