Airspacenews.com

Date : April 17, 2025 Location : Near Corozal, Belize Aircraft : Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Operator : Tropic Air Flight : 9N711 Occupants : 14 Fatalities : 1 (Hijacker) Injuries : 3 (including pilot and passengers) Departure airport : Corozal Airport (CZH/MZCZ) Destination airport : San Pedro Airport (SPR/MZSP) A dramatic mid-air hijacking unfolded over Belize on Thursday morning when Tropic Air flight 9N711, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX En route from Corozal to San Pedro, was commandeered by a knife-wielding passenger. The hijacker, identified as 49-year-old Akinyela Sawa Taylor, reportedly demanded that the aircraft be flown to the United States. The pilot, Howell Grange, managed to keep the aircraft airborne for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes while under duress. During the incident, Taylor allegedly attacked fellow passengers, stabbing at least one person in the back and injuring another. Grange and two passengers sustained injuries in the course of the event. As fuel leve...

Christchurch, New Zealand – Monday, January 6, 2025 An Air New Zealand flight bound for Brisbane was abruptly halted during takeoff at Christchurch International Airport early Monday morning after suffering a bird strike to both engines. Flight NZ207, an Airbus A321neo (registration ZK-NND), was accelerating on runway 20 when the incident occurred. According to ADS-B data, the aircraft reached a ground speed of approximately 140 knots before the takeoff was rejected. Passengers on board described hearing a loud bang just moments before the plane braked sharply and came to a stop. Passenger Ben Anderson recounted the moment, saying, "Everything felt normal as we started to accelerate. Then suddenly there was a bang, the brakes engaged, the front wheel came down, and we were in full reverse. One of the wheels seemed to skid slightly, but we eventually came to a stop." Following the aborted takeoff, the aircraft taxied back to the terminal. No injuries were reported among passen...