Latest news with #TripocAir
Los Angeles Times
17-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
U.S. man hijacks small plane in Belize, stabs 3 people before being fatally shot
MEXICO CITY — A U.S. man hijacked a small plane in Belize on Thursday, stabbing two passengers and a pilot, before one of the passengers fatally shot him, officials in Belize and the United States said. The plane then landed safely. The Tripoc Air plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members, and was flying from Corozal, a small town near Belize's border with Mexico, heading to the popular tourist destination of San Pedro when it was hijacked. The plane circled in random directions for nearly two hours as the drama unfolded in the skies. The plane was tailed by a police helicopter before touching down at an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. The two wounded passengers and pilot were being treated at a hospital for their injuries, officials said. Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, identified the hijacker as Akinyela Taylor and said he was a U.S. military veteran. One of the stabbed passengers managed to shoot at Taylor, who was killed, Williams said, adding that the passenger was licensed to carry a firearm and later turned his weapon over to police. The passenger was stabbed in his back and suffered a puncture to his lungs, Williams said, adding that he remains in critical condition. 'We are praying for him,' Williams told reporters. 'He's our hero.' Williams said that Taylor was demanding to be flown out of the country, possibly to Mexico, and at one point wanted the plane to land to add more fuel. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize said Taylor also insisted that he be taken to the U.S. 'We don't know why he wanted to go back to the United States or what was the reason,' Martin said, adding that U.S. officials did not know the motive for Taylor's hijacking but were working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened. Martin could not confirm the Belize police commissioner's statement that Taylor was a military veteran. Belize authorities declared a full emergency immediately after the incident started, around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement by the Belize Airport Concession Company. Maximillian Greif, the CEO of the airline company, said the hijacking was a 'serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency.' He said safety remains a 'top priority' for the airline. '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,' Greif said Janetsky and Watson write for the Associated Press. Watson reported from San Diego.
The Hill
17-04-2025
- The Hill
A US man hijacks a small plane in Belize and stabs people. He is fatally shot and plane lands safely
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A U.S. man hijacked a small plane in Belize on Thursday, stabbing two passengers and a pilot, before one of the passengers fatally shot him, officials in Belize and the United States said. The plane then landed safely. The Tripoc Air plane was carrying 14 passengers and two crew members, and was flying from Corozal, a small town near Belize's border with Mexico, heading to the popular tourist destination of San Pedro when it was hijacked. The plane circled in random directions for nearly two hours as the drama unfolded in the skies. The plane was tailed by a police helicopter before touching down at an airport in the coastal town of Ladyville. The two wounded passengers and pilot were being treated at a hospital for their injuries, officials said. Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, identified the hijacker as Akinyela Taylor and said he was a U.S. military veteran. One of the stabbed passengers managed to shoot at Taylor, who was killed, Williams said, adding that the passenger was licensed to carry a firearm and later turned his weapon over to police. The passenger was stabbed in his back and suffered a puncture to his lungs, Williams said, adding that he remains in critical condition. 'We are praying for him,' Williams told reporters. 'He's our hero.' Williams said that Taylor was demanding to be flown out of the country, possibly to Mexico, and at one point wanted the plane to land to add more fuel. U.S. Embassy spokesperson Luke Martin in Belize said Taylor also insisted that he be taken to the U.S. 'We don't know why he wanted to go back to the United States or what was the reason,' Martin said, adding that U.S. officials did not know the motive for Taylor's hijacking but were working with Belizean authorities to determine what happened. Martin could not confirm the Belize police commissioner's statement that Taylor was a military veteran. Belize authorities declared a full emergency immediately after the incident started, around 8:30 a.m. local time, according to a statement by the Belize Airport Concession Company. Maximillian Greif, the CEO of the airline company, said the hijacking was a 'serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency'. He said safety remains a 'top priority' for the airline. '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,' Greif said
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.
Chicago Tribune
17-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Passenger plane hijacked in Belize
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. Originally Published:
Washington Post
17-04-2025
- Washington Post
A person who hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize has died and the plane has landed safely
MEXICO CITY — 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.
