Coverage dated April 16, 2025 to April 17, 2025

American man hijacks plane headed to popular Belize tourist town

Headline from Fox10 Phoenix

An American man hijacked a small plane heading to a popular Belize tourist town, stabbing two passengers and a pilot before another passenger shot him.

Fox10 Phoenix's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

30 articles, oldest first.

Los Angeles Times
U.S. man hijacks small plane in Belize, stabs 3 people before being fatally shot (opens Los Angeles Times)
Published Apr 16, 2025
Los Angeles Times's feed description
Chester Williams, Belize police commissioner, identified the hijacker as Akinyela Taylor and said he was a U.S. military veteran.
The Guardian
US man shot dead after hijacking small passenger plane in Belize (opens The Guardian)
Published Apr 16, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Two people injured after man took control of plane at knifepoint before being shot by another passenger
CBS News
American shot dead after hijacking small plane in Belize (opens CBS News)
Published Apr 16, 2025
CBS News's feed description
A U.S. veteran was fatally shot after he hijacked a small passenger plane in Belize.
ABC 13 Houston
American citizen hijacks small plane in Belize, 3 injured: Police (opens ABC 13 Houston)
Published Apr 16, 2025
ABC 13 Houston's feed description
Three people have been injured after a small plane was hijacked in Belize, according to police.
ABC 7 New York
American citizen hijacks small plane in Belize, fatally shot, 3 passengers injured: Police (opens ABC 7 New York)
Published Apr 16, 2025
ABC 7 New York's feed description
Three people have been injured after a small plane was hijacked in Belize, according to police. Akinyela Sawa Taylor was shot and killed.
CNN
US citizen shot dead after hijacking small plane in Belize (opens CNN)
Published Apr 16, 2025
CNN's feed description
A US citizen hijacked a small Tropic Air plane in Belize on Thursday at knifepoint, injuring three others before being shot and killed, police said.
New York Post
American killed after attempting to hijack plane in Belize: officials (opens New York Post)
Published Apr 16, 2025
New York Post's feed description
A knife-wielding US national was fatally shot in the chest after attempting to hijack a Tropic Air plane in Belize on Thursday, officials said.
NBC News
U.S. man hijacks flight in Belize, stabs 3, is shot dead (opens NBC News)
Published Apr 17, 2025
NBC News's feed description
A U.S. man hijacked a small plane in Belize on Thursday, stabbing two passengers and a pilot, before one of the stabbed passengers fatally shot him, officials said.
Washington Examiner
US citizen stabs pilot and hijacks plane in Belize (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Apr 17, 2025
Washington Examiner's feed description
The hijacker, believed to be a U.S. military veteran, was shot dead by a passenger.
Fox10 Phoenix
American man hijacks plane headed to popular Belize tourist town (opens Fox10 Phoenix)
Published Apr 17, 2025
Fox10 Phoenix's feed description
An American man hijacked a small plane heading to a popular Belize tourist town, stabbing two passengers and a pilot before another passenger shot him.
Anchorage Daily News
US citizen hijacks small plane in Belize and stabs people on board before being fatally shot (opens Anchorage Daily News)
Published Apr 17, 2025
Anchorage Daily News's feed description
The plane circled in random directions for nearly two hours as the drama unfolded in the sky.
WSVN Miami
A US man hijacks a small plane in Belize and stabs people. He is fatally shot and plane lands safely - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports (opens WSVN Miami)
Published Apr 17, 2025
WSVN Miami's feed description
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 stabbed passengers
Sofrep
American Man Hijacks Belize Flight Using a Knife, Shot to Death by Passenger (opens Sofrep)
Published Apr 17, 2025
Sofrep's feed description
A routine island hopper turned into a blood-soaked nightmare in the Belizean skies, thanks to a knife-wielding lunatic who slipped through the cracks of a security system running on autopilot. Thankfully, someone had a firearm to bring the madness to an end.
Fox News
US man hijacks small plane in Belize, stabs 3 people before he's shot dead (opens Fox News)
Published Apr 17, 2025
Fox News's feed description
A U.S. man stabbed two passengers and a pilot, before being fatally shot while hijacking a small plane in Belize on Thursday.
The Columbian
American citizen killed by passenger while trying to hijack plane in Belize (opens The Columbian)
Published Apr 17, 2025
The Columbian's feed description
An American citizen was shot and killed by a passenger Thursday during his attempt to hijack a plane in Belize.
WWL New Orleans
A US man hijacks a small plane in Belize and stabs people. He is fatally shot and plane lands safely (opens WWL New Orleans)
Published Apr 17, 2025
WWL New Orleans's feed description
The plane was traveling from Corozal to San Pedro and Belize authorities declared a full emergency after the hijacking.
BNO News
Belize flight hijacked by U.S. citizen; 3 injured, hijacker shot (opens BNO News)
Published Apr 17, 2025
BNO News's feed description
A passenger fatally shot a hijacker aboard a domestic flight in Belize after the aircraft was diverted and forced to land at the International Airport near Belize City. Three people were injured during the incident, including the pilot and two passengers.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.