2025-04-18 - Channel 5 Belize

Tropic Air Team Member Jair Castañeda Released from Hospital

Tropic Air, the Airline of Belize, has announced that Jair (Franchesco) Castañeda has been released from medical care following injuries sustained during an incident yesterday. The airline expressed gratitude to the skilled medical team and the community for their support and prayers.

Captain Howell Grange and Fitzgerald Brown are still receiving medical care and are in stable condition. Tropic Air has requested continued support and prayers for these individuals, their families, and all those affected in the community.

Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a 49-year-old American veteran, was shot and killed by a passenger after hijacking a Tropic Air flight in Belize and stabbing three people. Taylor had entered Belize for the first time on April 8 but was involved in multiple incidents in the days leading up to the attack, including attempting to board a flight without a ticket, being denied entry into Mexico, and assaulting a police officer. Despite these events, he was released from custody. It remains unclear how he re-entered Belize or boarded the flight.

Family of American Man Who Hijacked Small Plane in Belize Speaks

The hijacking itself lasted nearly two hours and involved 14 passengers and two crew members. According to police, Taylor launched a knife attack mid-flight, stabbing two passengers and the pilot before being shot and killed by one of the wounded passengers. Video footage from inside the small aircraft shows terrified passengers bracing for impact as the plane landed safely after nearly running out of fuel.

Taylor’s family, including his nephew in St. Louis, Missouri, say they are stunned. “I don’t think he would do something like this,” his nephew said. “He was okay when I last saw him two weeks ago. He wasn’t on any medication. No signs of PTSD. This is a big shock to me and the rest of our family.”

He is a former St. Louis County teacher aand a military veteran.

A spokesperson for the Ferguson-Florissant School District said Taylor worked as an assistant football coach from June 2018 to February 2019, but is “no longer affiliated with the District in any capacity.”

Could the Tropic Air Plane Hijacking Have Been Prevented?

A terrifying mid-air ordeal over Belize ended with American hijacker 49-year-old Akinyela Sawa Taylor being ultimately shot and killed by a passenger. Taylor had hijacked a Tropic Air flight and stabbed three people.

Taylor, a U.S. military veteran and father of four, had arrived in Belize just nine days prior, on April 8, via an American Airlines flight from Miami, Florida. Immigration records show this was his first time visiting the country.

Taylor was involved in at least two troubling incidents in the days leading up to the attack—events that, if handled differently, may have prevented the tragedy.

Last week, Akinyela Sawa Taylor caused a disturbance at the Philip Goldson International Airport when he attempted to board a United Airlines flight to the U.S. without a ticket, prompting security to remove him.

On Saturday, April 12, he tried to enter Chetumal, Mexico, via the Santa Elena Border but was denied by Mexican authorities and then refused re-entry into Belize.

Taylor later surfaced in the Corozal Free Zone, where he reportedly spent the night in an abandoned building. He was later confronted by Corozal police and Free Zone security, during which he allegedly assaulted a police officer.

Although initially detained, Taylor was released on the directive of a high-ranking Belize Police Department official, according to sources.

It’s unclear how Taylor returned to Belize or boarded the Tropic Air flight from Ranchito Airstrip early Thursday.

BREAKING: Murder in Punta Gorda

The body of a man was found this morning in the Indianville area of Punta Gorda Town. According to reports, the discovery was made at around 9 o’clock. The body exhibited multiple chop wounds, including to the neck.

The victim’s body was found in a busy area. Investigators are working to identify the body.

This is a developing story.

Government Issues Statement After Hijacking on Tropic Air Flight

On Thursday evening, the Government of Belize issued an official statement following the hijacking of a domestic Tropic Air flight by Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a U.S. citizen.

Flight 9N711, en route from Corozal to San Pedro, was mid-flight when Taylor assaulted the pilot and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane circled over Belize City for nearly two hours before safely landing at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport.

Passengers helped subdue the attacker, and Taylor was fatally shot by another passenger. The pilot and two others were injured but are expected to recover. Emergency responders were on standby as the plane landed, and international flights at PGIA remain unaffected.

The Government of Belize described the event as “extraordinary and rare.”

With more than 120,000 domestic flights operating safely each year, the government acknowledged the seriousness of the breach and committed to reviewing and strengthening airport security.

“We commend the pilot for his exceptional professionalism and composure in the face of a highly stressful situation,” the statement read. “His actions undoubtedly safeguarded the lives of all on board.”

The Department of Civil Aviation is working closely with Belizean authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and other relevant partners to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hijacking.

While there is no current indication of a broader threat, officials have confirmed that enhanced security measures will be rolled out immediately at all domestic terminals. These measures are intended to reinforce passenger safety while minimizing disruption to travel.