US citizen killed after hijacking small plane

18/4/2025 5:49

A U.S. citizen

hijacked a small Tropic Air plane in Belize on Thursday at

knifepoint, injuring three other passengers before being shot

and killed, ABC News reported.



ABC News, citing police, said the assailant wanted to be

taken out of the country and demanded more fuel for the plane.



He was shot by a passenger on board who was carrying a

licensed firearm, it said.



Police did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for

comment.



According to ABC and other reports, the hijacker has been

identified by authorities as U.S. citizen Akinyela Sawa Taylor.

The plane was carrying 14 passengers, including Taylor and

another American, ABC reported.



The plane landed back in Belize after circling during the

hijacking, nearly running out of fuel, the reports said, citing

police.



The U.S. Embassy in Belize did not immediately respond

to a request for comment.