Lagatar24 Desk
Belmopan: A mid-air scare unfolded aboard a small Tropic Air flight bound for San Pedro, Belize, on Thursday when a 49-year-old American passenger allegedly attempted to hijack the aircraft while attacking fellow passengers with a knife. The suspect, later identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, was fatally shot by another passenger who intervened to stop the attack.
According to Belize Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, the violent incident left three individuals injuredbefore the assailant was neutralized. Commissioner Williams hailed the quick-thinking passenger who shot Taylor, calling them a “hero” for preventing what could have turned into a catastrophic situation.
The flight was en route to the island town of San Pedro when Taylor suddenly began assaulting passengers mid-air. Authorities are currently investigating how Taylor managed to smuggle a knife onto the flight despite existing security protocols.
US Embassy Contacted
In light of the suspect’s American citizenship, Belizean officials have contacted the US Embassy for support and coordination in the ongoing investigation. The motive behind Taylor’s attempted hijacking remains unclear.
The incident has prompted heightened security discussions around small regional flights, which may lack the stringent checks seen at major international airports.
