Posted on 04/17/2025 2:19:50 PM PDT by Eleutheria5
A violent mid-air incident aboard a domestic flight in Belize ended in the fatal shooting of an American man who attempted to seize control of the aircraft on Thursday morning, The New York Post reported.
According to Belizean authorities, Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49, brandished a knife and began attacking fellow passengers aboard Tropic Air flight V3HIG en route to San Pedro. The altercation began around 8:30 a.m. while the plane was still airborne.
During the chaos, Taylor managed to injure several individuals. However, another passenger on board intervened and fatally shot the attacker in the chest. The suspect later succumbed to his wounds, as reported by Newsweek.
The situation escalated to such a degree that officials at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport declared a state of emergency. As the violence unfolded, the Cessna Caravan aircraft circled unpredictably over the airport for nearly two hours before safely landing at 10:12 a.m.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams commended the passenger who intervened as a “hero,” crediting him with preventing further harm.
The plane was carrying a total of 14 passengers, including two US citizens, in addition to two crew members. The conditions of those injured is unknown.
Officials have yet to determine how Taylor managed to board the flight with a weapon. Compounding the mystery is the revelation that Taylor had reportedly been denied entry into Belize just days earlier.
“The question of how he re-entered the country remains under investigation,” Williams stated.
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(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
It's a Cessna, which means it's too small to rate a sky marshall on board.
Looks like a big fella. Raul’s burned down years ago btw.
This why vetted people carrying concealed guns are acceptable!
The scaredy cat Karen’s of the world would soil
themselves at the thought of armed civilians, doing
things in times and places cops can’t always be.
Me wondering too. Belizian air cop?
Well apparently passengers in Belize can bring knives and guns aboard the plane...
He had to have been a very sure shot. Firing guns in airplanes in mid-flight can go very wrong. Look what happened to Goldfinger.
“It’s a Cessna, which means it’s too small to rate a sky marshall on board.”
Just to shake things up a bit. We should have our sky marshals carry combat knives instead of guns. Stewardesses should have access to handcuffs to cuff belligerent drunks and druggies. With the help of a few burley passengers.
He wasn't initially mortally wounded but the rest of the passengers took care of that.
An American national, Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49, has been identified as the person who hijacked a Tropic Air plane in Belize, which was carrying 13 passengers. Taylor was shot in the chest and killed by a passenger who was carrying a licensed firearm, according to police, reported ABC News... The suspect had been denied entry into the country over the weekend, and police say they are now investigating how he was able to get in.
I suspect his true nationality is Nigerian.
Sai to counter samurai swords, too.
Usually hijackers are white so this surorising...I guess they’re branching out.
Cessna caravans don’t fly that high. and the pilot can see everyone.
That is a tight cabin. Y’all can’t miss in those close quarters.
Never bring a knife to a gun flight.
I bet it is Trump’s fault.
I am not sure how, but some skilled people will find some reason.
Did he have a lovable old aunt who made him paint a fence? Akinyela Sawa is as American a name as apple pie, or Babatunde Finn./s
FAFO!
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