A Tropic Air flight from Corozal Town to San Pedro in Belize was hijacked by an American brandishing a knife this morning. He seized control of the small Caravan aircraft and held it “at the mercy” of his threats.
The morning flight carried 11 passengers, and shortly after takeoff, 49‑year‑old Californian Akinyela Sawa Taylor approached the cockpit with a knife and ordered the pilot to stay in the air until the aircraft ran out of fuel
The plane looped south toward Belize City, then out over Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel and San Pedro, before the airport became alerted to the crisis. Despite the threats, the pilot managed a safe unplanned landing in Belize City. Two passengers suffered knife wounds during the confrontation and were rushed to nearby hospitals; one remains in critical condition following surgery.
PASSENGER STABBED TRYING TO FIGHT PLANE HIJACKER
A domestic flight from San Pedro was hijacked by a passenger on board. The aircraft continues to move along the coast of Belize.
We are not sure what is the motive of the hijacker but we do now that one man was stabbed several… pic.twitter.com/mmeNWEodCQ
— Claudia Bryan (@ClaudiaBryan01) April 17, 2025
Here’s video from inside the Caravan that was sent to me by a reader:
Passengers on the aircraft report that a customer onboard confronted the hijacker as law enforcement approached the aircraft on the ground and fired a fatal shot into the perpetrator’s chest. According to official statements, Taylor resisted arrest and was shot by officers. Flights in Belize City were briefly suspended.
Tropic Air, Belize’s largest domestic carrier, acknowledged the incident and pledged full cooperation with a joint investigation by the Belize Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation. Motive for the hijacking is unclear. The man arrived in Belize earlier this week as a tourist.
Here’s video from inside another aircraft being deplaned due to the hijacking:
And I didn’t have on the scene reporting by Tia Carrere on my bingo card.
By
By
By
