That’s when a surprising wave of outrage exploded in Belize. Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a former US resident who had previously been refused re-entry into the country, took a small passenger plane hostage at knifepoint. The plane was transporting 14 people in total and was en route from Corozal to San Pedro. Without warning, Taylor took charge and ordered the pilot to fly him out of Belize.
The situation escalated as Taylor attacked passengers, resulting in two injuries, including one individual who was stabbed in the back. The bogged down standoff ended when Belize’s commissioner of police, Chester Williams, put an end to the standoff by shooting Taylor in the chest. Despite swift medical intervention, Taylor was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after the incident.
The plane miraculously landed without crashing at Philip Goldson International Airport, where authorities quickly jumped into action to help passengers fleeing the chaotic scene. The passengers who sustained injuries were treated, with one listed as being in critical condition.
It is still not clear how Taylor was able to slip past Belize’s border security apparatus despite having been previously turned away. In direct reaction to this specific event, officials are evaluating security procedures on U.S. Their purpose is to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Chester Williams reflected on the operation, stating that authorities prepared for various scenarios, focusing on the safety of the passengers.
“We were hoping that we don’t have to move from a search-and-rescue operation to a search-and-recovery operation,” – Chester Williams, Belize’s commissioner of police.
The U.S. Embassy has recently intervened to help in the investigative process, which underscores the need for renewed assurances that safety will be upheld within the borders of Belize.
“We share that commitment with them to make sure that Belize is safe, the airlines are safe, the tourists coming here are safe, borders are safe and secure,” – A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy.
This horrifying incident raises serious questions about the security at our nation’s airports. Third, it emphasizes the importance of rethinking the screening process for anyone coming into or exiting Belize. As investigations continue, authorities are under the gun. They need to institute standards for everyone’s safety, as protection for citizens and tourists alike falls on their shoulders.