Three passengers were injured and a U.S. citizen was fatally shot after an attempted hijacking of a domestic Tropic Air flight in Belize on Thursday, police confirmed.
Authorities said Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen, allegedly hijacked the plane at knifepoint just before takeoff, demanding to be flown out of the country and for the aircraft to be refueled. The flight, operated by Tropic Air Belize, was carrying 14 passengers in total, including two Americans.
Police said Taylor was shot in the chest by another passenger who was legally armed. The aircraft, which circled in the air for some time during the ordeal, narrowly avoided disaster as it was almost out of fuel by the time it landed safely.
Three passengers, all Belizean nationals, sustained knife wounds in the incident. The full details of how Taylor managed to board the plane with a weapon remain under investigation, officials said.
In a statement, Tropic Air Belize CEO Maximillian Greif praised the pilot and crew for their response. “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,” he said. Greif described the pilot’s actions as “nothing short of heroic” and said the airline is providing “all available support” to the injured.
The U.S. Embassy in Belize has been informed and is assisting local authorities with the investigation. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the incident during a Thursday briefing, stating, “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.”
Further complicating the investigation, Belizean authorities revealed that Taylor had been denied entry to the country just days earlier. Police are now probing how he was able to re-enter and board the domestic flight.
Speaking from Philip Goldson International Airport, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Luke Martin expressed regret over the incident. “It really highlights the importance of safety and security,” Martin said. “We want Belize and the region to remain safe—not just for Belizeans, but for the many Americans who travel or reside here.”
Martin added that while the Embassy had not previously been contacted by Taylor and had no confirmation of his background—including whether he was a military veteran—it is cooperating fully with Belizean authorities. “We have a strong relationship with Belizean law enforcement, and in times like this, that partnership proves crucial,” he said.
While the investigation is being led by Belizean authorities, U.S. officials are standing by to offer continued assistance, particularly in determining how Taylor may have entered the country after being turned away at the northern border.
“Belize is an important partner in the region,” Martin added, “and we want to maintain those strong ties, especially with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that events like this are handled swiftly and professionally.”
Flights at Philip Goldson International Airport resumed shortly after the incident, and air traffic has since returned to normal.
