American Man Hijacks Belize Flight Using a Knife, Shot to Death by Passenger

​On the morning of April 17, 2025, a routine Tropic Air flight from Corozal to San Pedro, Belize, transformed into a harrowing, bloody ordeal. Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a 49-year-old American and former high school football coach, boarded the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX with 13 other passengers and two crew members. Shortly after takeoff, Taylor brandished a knife, demanding the pilot divert the plane out of Belize. During the hijacking, he stabbed two passengers and the pilot. 

Taylor has been widely reported to be a US military veteran, but I have not been able to independently confirm that at this point. ​

Taylor’s motives remain unclear. He had been denied entry into Belize just days prior, yet managed to re-enter the country and board the flight undetected. Authorities are investigating how he bypassed security measures and smuggled a weapon onboard.

Chaos in the Cabin

Shortly after taking off from Corozal, Akinyela Sawa Taylor pulled out a knife and launched a violent attack inside the cabin of a Tropic Air flight. He stabbed three people during the chaos: the pilot, Howell Grange, and two passengers, Fitzgerald Brown and Jair Castañeda. Taylor then threatened the remaining passengers and demanded that the pilot divert the plane out of Belize. He also insisted they land to refuel so he could continue his escape.

US citizen HIJACKS plane in Belize with 14 people on board

Threatening passengers with a knife and stabbing 3 shortly before takeoff, he demanded more fuel for the plane and to be flown out of the country
He was shot and reportedly killed by passenger with a gun pic.twitter.com/7qL0gnglD0

— Boar News (@PhamDuyHien9) April 17, 2025

The situation onboard quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal. The small aircraft flew erratically for nearly two hours as the wounded pilot struggled to keep control and passengers tried to stay safe. Panic gripped the cabin, but despite his injuries, one of the stabbed passengers—who was legally carrying a firearm—was able to shoot Taylor as the plane approached Belize City for an emergency landing.

Taylor was hit and subdued, and the pilot managed to land the aircraft safely. The injured passengers and pilot were rushed to a local hospital, while Taylor was declared dead upon arrival. Authorities have since praised both the bravery of the armed passenger and the quick thinking of the pilot, crediting them with preventing a far worse outcome.

Investigators are still reviewing the details of the incident, including how the armed passenger was able to act during the attack and how Taylor was able to board the flight with a weapon.

​Heroism Amidst Horror​

Belize’s Police Commissioner Chester Williams hailed Brown as a hero, stating, “We’re praying for him. He’s our hero.” The wounded pilot’s actions were also commended for preventing a potential catastrophe.​

Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif praised the crew’s response, emphasizing their rigorous training and commitment to passenger safety.​

So, Is It Legal To Bring a Firearm Aboard an Aircraft in Belize?

In Belize, it’s not legal for passengers to bring weapons onboard aircraft, plain and simple. The law makes that crystal clear. Under the country’s Civil Aviation Security Act, no one is allowed to carry a firearm on their person or in their baggage aboard a plane without first getting written permission from the airline. In some cases, you’ll also need approval from the Director of Civil Aviation. That goes for ammo, too.

The rules aren’t just there for show—if you break them, you’re looking at serious consequences. We’re talking stiff fines and possible jail time. The law also bans a long list of dangerous items from air travel, including things like knives, box cutters, and, naturally, guns and ammunition.

The only exceptions are for members of law enforcement or other security forces who are officially on duty and have the paperwork to prove it. So, unless you’re wearing a badge and following procedure to the letter, bringing a weapon on a flight in Belize is asking for a world of legal trouble.

What Kind of Security Checks Do Passengers Have to Undergo Prior to Boarding?

At Belize’s main international airport, Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), passengers go through standard security screening similar to what you’d expect in most countries. BACC Security handles the process, using scanners and X-ray machines to check both travelers and their carry-on luggage. If any of the equipment isn’t working, physical searches are done as a backup.

But the situation at municipal and domestic airstrips—like the one in Corozal where the recent hijacking took place—has been a different story. Historically, these smaller airports haven’t used scanners or enforced strict bag checks. That lack of security created a serious vulnerability, which the hijacker exploited by sneaking a knife onboard undetected. In the world of security, you’re only as strong as your weakest point. 

In response to the incident, Belizean authorities, including the Belize Airports Authority (BAA), have admitted these weaknesses and promised immediate action. They’ve announced plans to tighten security at all municipal airstrips. These changes will include routine bag checks and the installation of proper scanning equipment. The upgrades are set to begin rolling out in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to improve safety and bring all Belizean airports in line with international standards.

To sum it up: while PGIA already has solid security procedures in place, the smaller domestic airports are now scrambling to catch up in the wake of a serious wake-up call.

Security Scrutiny and International Implications​

The incident has prompted Belizean authorities to reevaluate domestic flight security protocols. The U.S. Embassy is collaborating with local officials to investigate the breach and ensure the safety of air travel in the region.​

As investigations continue, questions linger about Taylor’s intentions and how such a breach occurred. The event serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in aviation security and the importance of vigilance.​

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** This article is based on reports from various news outlets, including ABC News, The Guardian, and AP News.