Mid-Air Hijacking: Passenger Killed After Attempting to Seize Belize Flight

Chaos erupted aboard a Tropic Air passenger flight on Thursday when an individual attempted to hijack the aircraft mid-flight. The assailant, later identified as U.S. citizen Akinyela Sawa Taylor, reportedly brandished a knife, sending passengers and crew into a panic.

According to authorities, Taylor's erratic behavior escalated when he demanded the flight be diverted out of Belize and called for additional fuel. In the struggle that followed, three individuals including the pilot suffered injuries from the knife attack.

As the crisis unfolded, a passenger carrying a licensed firearm intervened, fatally shooting Taylor, thus preventing a catastrophic outcome. The aircraft ultimately landed safely, with emergency responders tending to the injured.

Belizean law enforcement has launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on how Taylor managed to smuggle a weapon onboard despite aviation security protocols.