Man killed after attempting to hijack plane and slashing people on-board

The hijacker slashed several people aboard the plane before another passenger shot him dead.

A knife-wielding US national was fatally shot in the chest after attempting to hijack a Tropic Air plane in Belize, on Caribbean coast of Central America on Thursday, officials said.

A state of emergency was declared at the Philip SW Goldson International Airport after Akinyela Sawa Taylor, 49, began attacking people inside the San Pedro-bound flight at 8:30am, according to officials, New York Timesreports.

The hijacker slashed several people aboard the plane before another passenger shot in him, with the suspect succumbing to his injuries, Newsweek reported.

During the incident, the Cessna Caravan V3HIG was circling the airport in random directions before landing at the airport at 10.12am, officials said.

Akinyela Sawa Taylor was fatally shot after the attempted hijacking. Picture: Channel 5 Belize

One of the attempted hijacker’s slashing victims is tended to. Picture: Instagram/christafariband

Concerns were growing over the situation as the aircraft was running out of fuel while circling the airport, authorities added.

Police and emergency personnel rushed to transport the suspect and aid the injured after the aircraft came to a stop on the runway.

Belize’s Commissioner of Police Chester Williams touted the passenger who shot Taylor as a “hero.”

The Philip SW Goldson International Airport declared a state of emergency. Picture: Instagram/christafariband

The plane was carrying 14 passengers, including two Americans, as well as two crew members.

It remains unclear how Taylor was able to get a knife on the plane, police added.

It’s also unclear how Taylor managed to get inside the country after he was denied entry over the weekend, Williams said.

The US Embassy in Belize has been tapped to help police investigate the incident.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Man killed after attempting to hijack plane and slashing people on-board