Passenger on Hijacked Tropic Air Flight Speaks Out

Tonight, we hear from Armin Burgos, a primary school teacher from Libertad Village, who was one of the passengers on Thursday’s hijacked Tropic Air flight to San Pedro. Burgos had booked the flight to handle some personal matters, but shortly after takeoff, he and the other thirteen passengers found themselves in a terrifying situation. Forty-nine-year-old U.S. national Akinyela Taylor hijacked the plane at knifepoint, demanding the pilot change course to the U.S. Among the passengers was an infant, who happened to be one of Burgos’ former students. Burgos told us that his main priority during the ordeal was to protect the child. He also shared details about what happened during the flight and the moment a passenger shot Taylor when the plane landed at Philip Goldson International Airport. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

When forty-nine-year-old U.S. national Akinyela Taylor hijacked a Tropic Air flight on Thursday morning, just after it took off from Ranchito Airstrip in Corozal, primary school teacher Armin Burgos was among the passengers.

 

Armin Burgos, Passenger on Hijacked Plane

“A little bit after eight ten, it was boarding time, so we went. And the guy from Tropic told me to go to the front and I said I wanted to jump out first, so I sat on the last single seat to the back. I saw Mr. Brown, going to the front, where I was suppose to be seated. I felt a little bad, because he was an older guy. He went and sit right beside the guy that hijacked the plane.”

 

Taylor was seated in the first row on a double seat next to Fitzgerald Brown, while Franchesco Castaneda was on a single seat beside them. According to the flight manifest, the plane was supposed to reach the island twenty minutes after takeoff. Burgos recalls that just two minutes into the flight, he heard a commotion at the front of the aircraft and saw Taylor stabbing Castaneda.

 

Armin Burgos

“So I tried to call police, but I called 911 and no answer. So I called one of my cousin and I told him that they are having stabbing on the plane. Then he said, you don’t want me in your eff country, you will take me back to the U.S. then things got serious. He told me don’t turn back, just go. After everything I reached to a conclusion that he thought that Mr. Casteneda was an air marshal. That is why. At no time did he want to attack any of the passengers, only he was attacked. During the attack, Mr. Brown was trying to stop him and hold him, because Mr. Brown was between the two of them. I believe he (Castaneda) did not get stabbed completely. I believe that if Mr. Brown was not there to help, he would have been dead.”

 

According to Burgos, Taylor ordered all fourteen passengers to move to the back of the plane, and everyone complied. Burgos realized the plane was being hijacked when Taylor demanded the pilot change course to the U.S. Burgos tried to contact authorities on the ground using his cellphone but stopped communicating after receiving a request he felt he couldn’t fulfill.

 

Armin Burgos

“He asked me if I would give the guy my phone, if he would be able to talk. I said, if he is not fooling with me why would  I go and fool around with him. I cut all communication. I didn’t even answer anymore communication with the police. I said, they cant help me at this moment. So, I began thinking about what I was going to do.  Nobody was talking.”

 

Burgos says that while the passengers were huddled at the back of the plane, Taylor and the pilot, Howell Grange, were constantly talking. An American passenger took off his shirt to help Castaneda with his wounds and used his belt to wrap Brown’s injury. The flight remained in the air for nearly two hours.

 

Armin Burgos

“During that time, after some time circling, the pilot said, prepare we are going to the U.S.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What did you think at that point?”

 

Armin Burgos

“I said, it would be worse, because they will shoot us down.”

 

And then, Burgos began formulating a plan for himself and the other passengers to launch a defense in the event Taylor turned his focus towards them.

 

Armin Burgos

“When the guy took off his belt to help Mr. Brown, I took off mine and said I am going to choke him if he comes around. I told everyone in the back to grab your bag and try to protect yourself. I took the first aid kit and there was an ex BDF in there and I said, he should be strong, so I gave him the first aid kit, because it was out of metal.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How would you describe Mr. Taylor’s demeanor throughout the entire ordeal?”

 

Armin Burgos

“He was mad, he was really mad and angry and serious. But at no time he looked at us and said nothing. I knew he did not want us to get hurt. He told the pilot I want them to land safe.”

 

Fuel depletion was a major worry for everyone on board and the authorities on the ground. Burgos started coaching the infant on what to do if the plane crash landed in water. Everyone was bracing for the worst. Burgos also saw Fitzgerald Brown place a firearm in one of the chair’s back pockets while the plane was still in the air. After some time, the plane landed at Philip Goldson International Airport. That’s when Taylor stabbed the pilot, and Brown shot Taylor.

 

Armin Burgos

“I saw Mr. Brown got up. I didn’t see how he grabbed the gun and a huge tall white guy was there and I saw him leaned over the chair and grabbed him and that is when the shot went off and he shouted for somebody to come and help. I went with my belt and tried to tie his hand. I only tied one. Mister Brown and the white guy was holding him. He was already shot but still moving. I saw he stabbed Mr. Brown once more. So I said, somebody stop the plane, it was rolling. Everybody was trying to jump out and the BDF guy just threw himself in between the pilot and all of us, Mr. Brown, the white guy and Mr. Taylor. And he stopped the plane.”

Taylor died shortly after the incident. Injured passengers were taken for medical treatment. Burgos shared that he spoke with a therapist over the weekend due to experiencing anxiety attacks following the hijacking.

 

Armin Burgos

“Immediately after that I stayed in shock. I could not talk. My breath was short. All I could recall, I asked for my belt and the police brought my belt. I thought I could get through it by myself, but I seek help. A counselor offered her service and I didn’t think I needed it. Knowing myself I didn’t think I need it, but after getting help it helped me a lot.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez