An American climbed on board a plane armed with a knife, and then asked for more fuel for the aircraft. What followed
Illustrative photography – a small aircraft of Mayan Island Air is preparing for departure to Belize City, at John Greif II, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Belize, March 6, 2025. Photo source: CNMAGES / ALAMY / Profimedia
An American citizen armed with a knife tried to dive on Thursday in Belize a small plane by Tropic Air Belize, but was shot dead by a passenger on board, reports ABC News.
Three people were also injured. On board were 13 more passengers, according to News.ro.
ABC News, who quotes the police, writes that the attacker – an American citizen, called Akinyela Sawa Taylor – wanted to leave the country aboard the aircraft. He was finally shot dead by one of the other 13 passengers, who had a firearm, owned legally.
According to the American press, the police were in contact by SMS with a passenger from the plane during the incident.
An investigation was opened to establish the exact circumstances of the tragedy.
The police received information that the plane was diverted by a passenger on board shortly before take -off. Taylor wanted to be removed from the country and asked for more fuel for the plane, the police said. Finally, he was shot dead in the chest by a passenger who had an authorized firearm. The plane, which turned in a circle above the coast near the capital of the country, remained almost without fuel when it landed, and the passenger's ordeal ended.
The three wounded passengers, all of the Belize, have injuries caused by the knife. The plane had 14 passengers in total, on board, including two Americans, the police said. It is not clear how he could climb the attacker with a knife.
The spokesman for the US Department of State, Tammy Bruce, said he does not have too many details about diversion. “We are grateful-I think we are all grateful-that it has not turned into an event with victims in mass,” Bruce said.
The police also reported that the suspect had refused the entrance to the country during the weekend, and the authorities are investigating how he managed to enter.
