In a shocking incident on Thursday, April 17, 2025, a U.S. citizen hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize, stabbing two passengers
and one of the victims fatally shot the pilot before ,according to authorities in Belize and the United States.
Despite the chaos, the pilot managed to land the plane safely, preventing a potential catastrophe.
The plane, operated by Tropic Air, was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members.
It had departed from Corozal, a town near Belize’s border with Mexico, and was en route to San Pedro, a popular tourist destination.
The hijacking unfolded mid-flight, sending the aircraft into erratic circles for nearly two hours,
while a police helicopter monitored the situation from above.
The emergency began around 8:30 a.m. local time, prompting authorities to declare a full alert at airports across Belize.
According to the Belize Airport Concession Company, immediate emergency protocols were activated as the drama escalated in the skies.
In a statement, Maximillian Greif, CEO of Tropic Air, praised the pilot’s
“extraordinary courage and calm,” calling his actions “nothing short of heroic.”
The injured pilot and two passengers were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Authorities confirmed that one passenger remained in critical condition.
At a press briefing in Washington, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce described the incident as “horrifying,”
expressing gratitude that the situation didn’t escalate into a mass-casualty event. “Clearly, we know a few details, but much remains unknown,” she said.
Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams identified the hijacker as Akinyela Taylor, a U.S. military veteran —
although U.S. officials have not yet verified his military background.
According to Williams, Taylor attempted to force the plane to either fly to Mexico or refuel for an extended flight, and at one point, demanded to be flown back to the United States.
One of the stabbed passengers, identified as Fitzgerald Brown, managed to draw his licensed firearm and shoot Taylor, ultimately killing him. Brown, however, suffered a serious stab wound to the back that punctured his lung and remains in critical condition.
“He’s our hero,” Commissioner Williams told reporters, praising Brown’s actions under extreme pressure.
The second injured passenger was identified as Jair Castañeda, while the wounded crew member was named Howell Grange. Their nationalities were not immediately disclosed.
Officials are still investigating Taylor’s motives. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize noted that Taylor had demanded to return to the United States, though the reasons behind his desperate and violent hijacking attempt remain unclear.
Background on Tropic Air:
Tropic Air is one of Belize’s largest and most trusted airlines, providing crucial connections across the country and to neighboring nations. The incident marks one of the most serious aviation-related security threats in Belize’s history.
Authorities from both Belize and the U.S. are cooperating closely to piece together how the hijacking unfolded and what drove Taylor’s fatal actions.