Who is Akinyela Sawa Taylor? US citizen fatally shot by co-passenger after attempted flight hijacking

US man attempts to hijack plane in Belize, shot dead by fellow passenger (Representative Image)

A US citizen attempted to hijack a Tropic Air flight in Belize, injuring three people before being fatally shot by another passenger, officials said, according to the New York Post.

The mid-air attack occurred on a flight heading to San Pedro, when the 49-year-old suspect began assaulting fellow travelers with a knife.

Authorities later identified the attacker as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen, Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams confirmed.

The aircraft, which had 14 passengers and two crew members on board, was hijacked shortly after taking off from Corozal, a town near Belize’s northern border with Mexico. It was headed to the tourist hotspot of San Pedro.

During the ordeal, the plane reportedly flew in an erratic pattern for nearly two hours before being intercepted by a police helicopter and safely guided to land in the coastal town of Ladyville, according to The New York Times.

“In the face of incomprehensible pressure, our pilot acted with extraordinary courage and calm, guiding the aircraft to a safe landing. His actions were nothing short of heroic,” said Maximillian Greif, CEO of Tropic Air.

Who is Akinyela Sawa Taylor? 

Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49, a US citizen, was identified as the suspect in the attempted plane hijacking in Belize, according to Police Commissioner Chester Williams. Authorities say Taylor was denied entry into Belize through the northern border over the weekend.

Believed to be a military veteran, Taylor had a background in education and coaching. Online records suggest he once worked as a football coach at McCluer North High School in Florissant, Missouri, though the school confirmed to Reuters he is no longer employed there.

During the flight, Taylor reportedly tried to force the aircraft to change its route and demanded it land for refueling. How he managed to board the plane with a knife remains under investigation.