An American military veteran, Akinyela Taylor, was shot dead following a hijacking incident involving a small passenger aircraft in Belize on Thursday. The plane, operated by Tripoc Air and carrying 14 passengers along with two crew members, managed to land safely despite the chaos that ensued. Reports from Belize’s police commissioner, Chester Williams, revealed that Taylor, armed with a knife, attacked several individuals on board, injuring both a pilot and two passengers.
After the plane landed in Ladyville, Taylor was confronted by an armed passenger, who shot him in self-defence during the attack. This passenger, who had been among those stabbed, is now reported to be in critical condition, having sustained serious injuries to his back and lungs. Williams expressed gratitude towards the passenger, referring to him as a hero.
During the ordeal, Taylor expressed a desire to be flown out of Belize, demanding a landing for refuelling while insisting on being taken to the United States. U.S. officials have yet to uncover the motives behind Taylor’s actions but are collaborating with Belizean authorities to investigate the incident.
The flight, which originated from Corozal and was headed to San Pedro, triggered a full emergency response after the hijacking commenced around 8:30 a.m. local time. Initially, the hijacker directed the plane in erratic circles before it was safely landed at the coastal airport. Fortunately, all passengers survived the ordeal and were accounted for, with the injured transported to a local hospital.
Interestingly, authorities uncovered that Taylor had tried to enter Belize via the northern border from Mexico but had been denied entry, raising questions about how he eventually made it to the country.