An American citizen armed with a knife attempted Thursday, April 17, to divert a small plane in Belize but was killed by a passenger, police said. The Cessna Grand Caravan plane of the Bélizienne Airline Tropic Air had taken off in the morning with 14 occupants from Corozal (North) towards the island of San Pedro, when the air pirate ordered the pilot, under the threat of a knife, to turn away from his road. “Shortly after takeoff, the plane was diverted by a passenger on board, American citizen. It would seem that he is a veteran of war ”said police commissioner Chester Williams at Channel 5. “According to our information, this air pirate demanded to leave the country”.
The aircraft flew over Belize’s international airport for a while, before landing, about to miss fuel. For reasons which must still be elucidated, the pirate of the air would have stabbed two passengers and one of them died fatally on him. The two wounded passengers were transported to the hospital, the author of the author who, according to the authorities, had a weapon port. The air pirate has been identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49.
The American embassy in Belize expressed its regrets, stressing that he had no contact with the air pirate during the diversion, nor knowledge of his presence in Belize. “We want Belize and the region to remain safe, not only for the Beliziens, but also for the many Americans who travel or resident here”said Luke Martin. The operations were temporarily suspended at Philip Goldson airport before resuming at the end of the day.
