Latest news with #AkinyelaTaylor
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
American man hijacks plane headed to popular Belize tourist town
The Brief An American man and possible U.S. military veteran hijacked a plane that was heading to a popular Belize tourist town. The plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members when the hijacker, Akinyela Taylor, flew the plane for nearly two hours, demanding to return to the U.S. A passenger on the plane was able to shoot and kill Taylor, despite being stabbed by Taylor and suffering a punctured lung. An American man hijacked a small plane heading to a popular Belize tourist town Thursday, stabbing two passengers and a pilot before he was shot and killed by another passenger. The terrifying incident started around 8:30 a.m. local time and lasted for nearly two hours. What we know A Tropic Air plane had 14 passengers and two crew members on board when the hijacking happened. It was flying from Corozal, a small town near the Belize-Mexico border, to San Pedro, a popular tourist destination. The flight route provided by Flightradar 24 shows the plane circling around randomly. A police helicopter was following the plane before it landed safely in the coastal town of Ladyville. The hijacker, later identified as Akinyela Taylor, stabbed two passengers and a pilot during the hijacking. One of the stabbed passengers was able to shoot and kill Taylor, despite being stabbed in the back and suffering a punctured lung. The passenger was licensed to carry a gun and later turned it over to police. He remains in critical condition. What we don't know The Belize police commissioner said Taylor was a U.S. military veteran, but U.S. officials have not confirmed his military status. It's also unclear why Taylor hijacked the plane. Police said Taylor was demanding to be flown out of the country to the U.S., and at one point wanted the plane to land to add more fuel. READ MORE: 'Wildlife strike' forces United Airlines flight to make emergency landing, officials say What they're saying "We don't know why he wanted to go back to the United States," U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin said. "Horrifying," U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said. "We are grateful, I think all of us are, that that did not turn into a mass casualty event." READ MORE: American Airlines flight catches fire after landing in Denver: What we know "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, the CEO of the airline company. The Source This report includes information from The Associated Press and Flightradar24.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-McCluer North coach shot dead after attempting to hijack plane in Belize
ST. LOUIS – A former McCluer North Football Coach was left dead Thursday after attempting to hijack a small plane in Belize. According to officials, Akinyela Taylor, 49, attempted to hijack an airplane Thursday that was flying from a small town near Belize's border to the popular tourist destination San Pedro, Mexico. The plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members when it was hijacked. Authorities claim that Taylor stabbed multiple people on board before one of the victims managed to shoot and kill him after Taylor had gashed the passenger. Multiple victims at the place remain in critical condition after the incident. The company managing the Belize airport concession says authorities declared a full emergency immediately after the incident started. The plane circled in random directions for nearly two hours in the skies during the incident. Restraining order filed against St. Louis Sheriff following second worksite visit A Police helicopter followed the hijacked plane before it was able to touch down at an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. 'Sadly that passenger is in a critical condition because he was stabbed, I think in the back and his lungs seem to have been collapsing, said Chester Williams, Belize Police Commissioner. 'He has been rushed to the Medical Associates (hospital). We are praying for him. He's our hero, I must say.' The Ferguson-Florissant School District confirmed Thursday night that Taylor was an assistant football coach at McCluer North High School from June 27, 2018, to Feb. 6, 2019. Belizean authorities say he was also a military vet, but the U.S. has not confirmed if that's true. U.S. Officials say they don't know the motive for Taylor's hijacking but are working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
17-04-2025
- CBS News
American shot dead after hijacking small plane in Belize
A U.S. veteran was fatally shot after he hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize on Thursday, officials in Belize and the U.S. confirmed. After the Tropic Air Belize plane carrying 14 passengers and two crew members landed safely, police in Belize identified the man as Akinyela Taylor. Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, said that Taylor wielded a knife and stabbed three passengers on the plane. Those people were later taken to the hospital to treat their injuries. Williams said that Taylor was shot by a passenger who was licensed to carry a firearm, which he later turned over to police. The passenger was among those stabbed and remains in critical condition as he was stabbed in the back and lungs, according to the police commissioner. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin confirmed that Taylor was a U.S. citizen. He said U.S. officials did not know the cause or motive but were working with Belizean authorities. "Earlier today, a Tropic Air flight faced a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency," Tropic Air CEO Maximillian Greif said in a stament. "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." The plane was traveling from Corozal to San Pedro and Belize authorities declared a full emergency after the hijacking, which took place at around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement by the Belize Airport Concession Company. The plane circled in random directions for hours until landing safely in an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. All passengers were accounted for, according to the BACC, and those injured were flown to a hospital for treatment.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man who hijacked a small plane in Belize and was fatally shot was a US veteran
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A U.S. veteran was fatally shot after he hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize on Thursday, officials in Belize and the U.S. have confirmed. After the plane carrying 14 passengers and two crew members landed safely, police in Belize identified the man as Akinyela Taylor. Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, said that Taylor wielded a knife and stabbed three passengers on the plane. Those people were later taken to the hospital to treat their injuries. Williams said that Taylor was shot by a passenger who was licensed to carry a firearm, which he later turned over to police . The passenger was among those stabbed and remains in critical condition as he was stabbed in the back and lungs, according to the police commissioner. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. MEXICO CITY (AP) — A person who hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize has died and the plane has landed safely, officials in the Latin American country said Thursday. Several people on board the Tripoc Air plane carrying 14 passengers and two crew members were reported injured, but authorities did not provide further details. It was not immediately known how the hijacker died. The plane was traveling from Corozal to San Pedro and Belize authorities declared a full emergency after the hijacking, which took place at around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement by the Belize Airport Concession Company. The plane circled in random directions for hours until landing safely in an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. All passengers were accounted for, according to the BACC, and those injured were flown to a hospital for treatment.
