2025-04-17 - Channel 5 Belize

U.S. National Hijacks Tropic Air flight; Hijacker Dead

News Five provided live broadcast this morning as law enforcement authorities tracked a Tropic Air flight that was hijacked by a U.S. national leaving Corozal. He has been identified as forty-nine-year-old Akinyela Sawa Taylor. A passenger on board the aircraft shot and killed Taylor moments after the plane landed at the Phillip Goldson International Airport. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This is the flight path of an aircraft hijacked by forty-nine-year-old U.S. national Akinyela Sawa Taylor. Armed with a knife, Taylor demanded that Howell Grange, a pilot for Tropic Air, fly him out of the country. The flight had fourteen passengers, including an infant. Flight tracking shows the pilot made a sharp turn after takeoff, circled around, then headed south. South of Belize City, the plane turned east over the Caribbean Sea, circled Caye Caulker and San Pedro Town, then returned over land near the Phillip Goldson International Airport. It went back out to sea before landing at the airport an hour and a half after leaving Corozal. A licensed firearm holder on board shot and killed Taylor moments after landing. These Cessna Caravan planes can travel over a thousand miles in ideal conditions, but the pilot told Taylor they were low on fuel, according to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“And at one point in time they demanded that he landed at an area where they can refuel. Our greatest concern was the fuel consumption of the plane. The information we were getting was that the fuel was depleting, and the plane was still at a very high altitude moving.”

Law enforcement, medical, and fire personnel were ready at the Belize City Municipal Airport in case the pilot landed there. Taylor had stabbed three people on board: Jair Castaneda, a Tropic Air employee, Fitzgerald Brown, and the pilot, Howell Grange. Images and videos from the plane show a severely injured Castaneda, while the other passengers huddled at the back of the plane.

Chester Williams

“So we had deployed at the International, Belize City Municipal, Caye Caulker, San Pedro, Dangriga and Even the Coastal Road, because there is an airstrip there. We did this to ensure that if the plane landed, we would have been able to intercept the hijacker.”

When the plane made its second pass over the Caribbean Sea, it had only twenty minutes of fuel left. Authorities then called in Astrum Helicopter to track the aircraft.

Chester Williams

“We were now thinking outside the box, knowing the fuel was depleting we were hoping we didn’t have to move from a search and rescue to search and recovery. The think was for the helicopter to follow the plane to see where it would land so if they received to crash land the plane in the sea or one of the islands we would have been there quickly to respond.”

A social media user caught this video of the plane flying over Saint George’s Caye, just east of Belize City. The passenger who shot and killed Taylor after the plane landed was among the injured and is being hailed as a hero. This is the first incident of its kind in recent history, leaving many to wonder why Taylor hijacked the plane and what his story is. U.S. Embassy of Belize Public Affairs Officer Luke Martin was at the PGIA, working with local authorities.

Reporter

“Can you tell us about what you found out about the hijacker and what was his motive?”

Luke Martin, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Belize

“We don’t have any information on him at all. We know that his name was being released. We don’t know what was his intention, why he wanted to go back to the U.S., the reason of it. So, right now we don’t have any information on that.”

Paul Lopez

“So you have confirmed that he was trying to get back to the U.S. on this plane?”

Luke Martin

“That is reports that we have heard, but we have nothing direct on that. This is something that the Belize authorities, we trust them to resolve and look at well. We share that commitment with them to make sure Belize is safe, airlines are safe, tourist are safe, borders are safe and secure, this is all part of that as well. It highlights that important event of everybody investing their time and money.”

Local authorities have uncovered more details about Akinyela Sawa Taylor. Over the weekend, Mexican authorities denied him entry at the northern border, but he managed to sneak into Belize through an unauthorized entry point.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“There was an issue last night from what I was told at the freezone involving the same person. So he seems to be a problematic person, and so that is what we know about him a part from the fact that he is a U.S. veteran.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

U.S. Department of State on Plane Hijacking

During a State Department press briefing this afternoon, spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the Tropic Air hijacking by a U.S. national in Belize. Bruce confirmed that the Department of State is aware of the situation. We also spoke with Public Relations Officer Luke Martin of the U.S. Embassy in Belize about the report the embassy will send to its U.S. counterparts.

Reporter

“An attempted hijacking of an airplane internally in Belize, Tropic Air. It involved an alleged hijacker who is a U.S. citizen, according to law enforcement report, he was fatally shot. He has been identified as a U.S. citizen and passport holder. Does the U.S. have any information on this?”

Tammy Bruce, Spokesperson, U.S. Department of State

“Not yet. We watched that unfold like everyone else. It is horrifying. We are grateful, like all of us are, that this did not turn into a mass casualty event with over a dozen people on the plane. We know a few details. We don’t know much more. As I was working on the briefing that came across my timeline. It came across yours. It is terrifying. But thank God. We don’t know about injuries and any other details, so we cant comment. But we know there was effective law enforcement on the ground and that is all I have for you now. But obviously we are watching it now.”

Paul Lopez

“What do you have to send or say to your counterparts in the U.S. at this point? What is the next step?”

Luke Martin, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Belize

“I really think that highlighting the importance of Belize. Belize is a regional partner. It is important to Central America and the Caribbean. We want to keep ensuring that we have traction and connections without law enforcement colleagues here as well.”

Paul Lopez

“What do we know about his family members in the U.S., where he originated or what state.”

Luke Martin

“We don’t have that information. We don’t know his situation, other than the name.”

Paul Lopez

“Will the embassy be working with the local authority to do a thorough background check.”

Luke Martin

“Investigation will happen, but this is in Belize so the Belize authorities will handle that as well.”

Minister of Police Visits Injured Plane Passengers

Tropic Air released a statement after the incident, calling it a serious and unprecedented in-flight emergency. They praised the pilot’s heroic effort and extraordinary courage in safely landing the plane under intense pressure. Tropic Air expressed sympathy for the injured passengers and emphasized that safety is their top priority, with pilots undergoing rigorous training to handle any situation. The airline also thanked the Prime Minister, the Department of Civil Aviation, law enforcement, and medical teams for their swift response. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams visited the injured passengers at private healthcare facilities in Belize City. We spoke with Minister Musa.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Myself and the commissioner visited the pilot, Mr. Howell Grange over at Health Care Partners a few minutes ago. Mr. Grange was undergoing a CT Scan to ensure that no organs was affected. He received stab wounds as well. We have two patients here at the Belize Medical Associates. Both are being treated at this time. Currently no serious impact to their organs as well. But they are badly injured. They have several stab wounds to the head and over the body. We had a chance to see them. They are in good spirit and we will continue to keep them in our prayers.”

Increased Security Measures at Municipal Airport

The Belize Airports Authority issued a press release thanking all authorities involved and reassuring the public that safety and security are top priorities at municipal airstrips across the country. The BAA announced plans to enhance security protocols, including passenger bag checks and installing scanning equipment. It also clarified that these measures are part of a long-term strategy to improve safety standards across aerodromes, not a direct response to today’s incident. The hijacker on the Tropic Air flight managed to bring a knife on board, highlighting gaps in safety protocols at municipal airports.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“This is going to be something discussed intensely at the next National Security Council meeting. I know we have commenced dialogue in terms of looking at our internal flight security. The time has come for us to look at it more in depth and see what adjustments can be made. I am sure there is going to be input from the airport authority in this respect. It is a matter for the national security to see what is going to be done moving forward where security on these planes are concerned.”

Reporter

“So how lax is security at the Corozal Airstrip?”

Chester Williams

“I cannot say how lax it is. At this time I cannot say. I don’t think we have that system where we do rigid search. It is only at the PGIA where you will have to go through a scanner to board a flight. At these airstrips there is not that kind of security. The time has come for us to look at having security measures at every airstrip onc e it is used for commercial purpose.”

ComPol Commends Pilot and Agencies that Responded

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams praised all the agencies that responded to the hijacking, highlighting the pilot’s bravery. Williams noted that if the pilot had panicked, the outcome could have been very different.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It is a matter of making sure we have proper command and control. I took command of the operation and guided what the police weas going to do, lasing with different counterparts, looking at the U.S. Embassy, the Coast Guard, the BDF, even the CEO in the prime minister’s office. My minister, I kept constant dialogue with him. It is to ensure we are all in sync in terms of what we do when have these incidents. At the end of the day, one slip can cause mayhem. So we have to ensure that whatever we do is done with the intent to create good and achieve good. I believe that all the agencies involved today did execute their functions properly and that is the reason why we have the results we have. And, I cannot forget the pilot. The pilot for that plane did an exception job, even in terms of his communication with the tower as this was unfolding. He remained calm and was extremely focused in terms of what he was going to do. Had he panicked it could have had a different outcome.”

UB Issues Release on Sexual Harassment Scandal

On Wednesday night, we reported the shocking news that a UB lecturer, Doctor Pio Saqui, has been placed on administrative leave while investigations are conducted into multiple allegations of sexual offenses. Docotr Saqui has been accused of committing these offenses against students over the past decade. Today, the University of Belize announced that several students have reported sexual harassment by a university lecturer, whose name has not been disclosed. The university is taking these allegations seriously and is following its established policies and procedures. The lecturer has been placed on administrative leave, and a full investigation is underway. The disciplinary committee will review the case. On our Wednesday night newscast, we reported that the allegations against Doctor Pio Saqui date back to when William Neal was Dean of Student Affairs. News Five has learned that Neal did not stay silent and reported the allegations to the higher-ups at the institution. However, one victim chose to withdraw her claim, wanting to move on. Today, former UB Student Government President Eric Sanchez told News Five that sexual misconduct allegations have been common at the university since he was there in 2010.

Eric Sanchez, Former President, U.B Student Government

“There were several accusations made by numerous students at that time, all females against numerous lecturers – I think three lecturers at the university at that time that then led to a flyer being circulated throughout the university in 2010, 2011, thereabout. The flyer made accusations of sexual harassment upon these three individuals as I was serving as the student body president. I then told them that I do believe that this needed to be investigated further because of accusations that myself had heard from some students. Students who, to this point, have not come out forward with the accusation, at least that I’ve seen. and for me, I believe that. The explanation at that point, if I can recall correctly, was that they’ve been in, they’ve been investigations. But when it came to the point of a formal complaint being lodged, that’s when there was some apprehension, reasonable apprehension, because there was no system in place at that time or maybe even now to protect the student and there was a fear of repercussion. A victimization by individuals who were being accused of these acts. My recollection is that the university made mention in that meeting that without formal legal complaint being, being made. There was little that they could do that would not that would allow them under their processes to act a point, but I also think that the students did not feel comfortable going through a legal process or be named because I think you have to be in front of your accuser or your accuser has to know who you are for it to be a legal challenge. But because there is no system in place to protect these victims, there was a fear and a reasonable fear that they didn’t want to come forward.”

Was Missing Fisherman Jeremy Mushlar Murdered at Sea?

A man is missing at sea near Tobacco Caye in Stann Creek after disappearing around eight PM on Tuesday night. Thirty-three-year-old Jeremy Mushlar was fishing in a dory with three others who were in a separate boat. When the others decided to head back because the fish weren’t biting, Mushlar chose to stay out longer. That was the last time he was seen. His younger sister, Kaia Mushlar, told News Five that while the family doesn’t want to judge anyone, the details they’ve received are inconsistent. She said they learned on Wednesday that Jeremy had been fishing at Tobacco Caye for four days until he vanished on Tuesday night.

Kaia Mushlar, Sister of Missing Man

“Jeremy went out to go fishing by himself Tuesday the 15th of April at approximately 8:00 p.m.. He was in a blue dory that did belong to his previous friend from Dangriga that was lately murdered on Ramos Road on the 23rd of March.”

Marion Ali

Who’s that?

Kaia Mushlar

“That would be Charles Bradley, also known as Short Man. So according to the information that we have received, Jeremy went out in the blue dory. He was, according to the three people who were in a boat that saw him out there, he was drinking and he was lying at the bottom of the dory and he was told three times by them that he was drifting and he told them that he still wanted to go ahead and stay out and try to catch some fish. Since the three in the big boat stated that fish weren’t biting, they went ahead and headed back to the caye. They then told us that around 11:00 p.m., they decided to go back and check on Jeremy and they went back to the same spot where they had last seen him, and they didn’t see him anywhere.”

Marion Ali

“Now these people, are they his friends? Are they his associates?”

Kaia Mushlar

“So, one of them is his girlfriend’s brother, and the next two are friends that live around the same area as him, his friends? Yes, that’s correct.”

Marion Ali

“Do you have any reason to believe that foul play was involved in his disappearance?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Well, I don’t really wanna say too much at this time, however, the details that we have been receiving have been very inconsistent. And we believe that something definitely fishy is happening and we just hope that we’re able to get to the bottom of this.”

Marion Ali

“The friend that was murdered just a month ago on Ramos Road, do you think that has anything to do with his disappearance?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Well, again, I don’t want really wanna say too much, but we had heard from sources that it was supposed to be Jeremy and him that were supposed to get shot that morning, that thanks to God, Jeremy wasn’t around him at that time, so he was the only one that unfortunately it happened to.”

Marion Ali

“And if that is the case, why would anybody want to hurt your brother?”

Kaia Mushlar

“Again, due to – we live way here in Belize City and he lives in Dangriga you know, we aren’t really around him much to see, you know, what he’s doing or to be a judge of that. However, as far as I’m concerned, my brother has never had any issues with the police, nothing like that. There was an incident a while ago that happened that my brother did end up in the hospital for that incident, and I just hope that it’s not that issue again.”

Marion Ali

“Was he shot?”

Kaia Mushlar

“No, he was stabbed.”

Chester says CEO’s Also Affected by Inflation

On Wednesday, we reported on the approved salary increases for Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie and all Chief Executive Officers in the Briceño administration, effective the day after the 2025 general elections. The Cabinet Secretary’s annual salary jumped to ninety-six thousand dollars, while the CEOs’ salaries rose to eighty-eight thousand dollars. The Public Service Union quickly criticized the move, accusing the government of ignoring public servants’ concerns. Today, we asked Chester Williams, the incoming C.E.O. of the Ministry of Transport, for his opinion on the matter. Here’s what he had to say.

Chester Williams, Incoming CEO of Transport

“I’m not gonna say no, that the government workers don’t deserve an increase. I do believe that majority of government workers deserve an increase, but when we speak of increase, we have to look at what the government can afford. What people don’t understand is that as public officers, we get increase every year. You may not want to say it, but every year public officers get an increase. That increase come by way of an annual increment, which is equivalent to three percent of your salary. While from what I see, CEOs don’t get an annual increase. They get one flat salary. And that salary they get up until when they start become CEO. So if you were to calculate what CEOs were making four or five years ago and you compare what a public officer would’ve making four or five years ago, you would see that the public officer had made significant progress in salary while the CEOs did not. So I’m not saying that to justify anything. I’m just saying that. At the end of the day, inflation affects everybody. It not it is, it does not only affect the ordinary public offices, but it also affects the CEOs. So I guess that is split in which the increase was looked at. And if you were to take the old salaries of the CEOs and you add 3three percent to that every year from six years ago to now, it would still be more than eighty-eight thousand dollars.”

Chester May Make Less Money as CEO of Transport

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is gearing up to take on his new role as C.E.O. of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and Transportation. Although he’s excited about the move, he mentioned that his salary will be lower than what he earns as Commissioner. Today, he shared some details about the ongoing talks regarding his pay.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Yes. My, my salary as commissioner of police is more than what the CEOs are making and that is one of the issue that we are having. I I cannot be allowed to get a reduction in salary. Getting a reduction in salary by getting a right. That is one of the issue that we are dealing with at this time, to see how we’re going to work with the salary issues.”

Adaptability & Grit Keeping PG Business Open 90 Years Later

The phrase ‘Swimming with the Tide’ perfectly captures the spirit of the small family in our next story. It’s about a mother and son, the last two leaders of a business in Punta Gorda that has weathered fierce competition and adapted to change over the past several years, just as it has over nine decades of existence. Over the years, the family business, which started as the largest retail grocery and hardware store in Punta Gorda, had to move three times because the buildings became too old to be safe. You’ll meet the mom, who was once a customer and is now a key part of the success story, and her son, whose education has been crucial in keeping the business thriving today. This week’s edition of Belize on Reel brings you the history of the family business that evolved from a huge dry goods store in the 1930s to a pharmacy and stationery store still serving P.G. and its surroundings. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Meet Nigel Vernon, a trained pharmacologist, who owns and is licensed to operate NJV’s Pharmacy on Front Street in Punta Gorda. Nigel registered the pharmacy back in 2009, and for the past fifteen years, he has been running it alongside his mom, Betty Coleman. The pharmacy is just the latest chapter in the story that Nigel’s grandfather, George Vernon, began ninety years ago.

Nigel Vernon, Owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“I did not know my grandfather. He passed away in 1982. I was just about two and a half years old.”

Nigel’s mother, Betty Coleman, hails from Guatemala, where her Belizean mother and Guatemalan father lived. It was during those trips as a child that her parents took her to shop at the store.

Betty Coleman, Co-owner, NJV’s Pharmacy

“We used to pass by and you know, we used to go to the shop because it was the biggest shop, everybody, when I used to come and stay with my cousin in Forest Home, would say, let’s go to George Vernon’s Store.”

After George passed away, his son Vance began courting Betty. She moved to Belize in 1971 to be with him, and together they had four children, including Nigel. Betty reminisced about what daily life was like back when Vernon’s Store was still a cornerstone of the PG community.

Betty Coleman

“We used to sell almost everything you could think about, like alcohol, beverages. We used to sell flour, well groceries on a whole, building materials. We used to sell rum by pints. So we have to mix that in the morning, like by six, seven o’clock. We used to open and from then we start and we used to have some really hectic days because we used to have these boats come from Guatemala and they used to buy stuff like buy 50 cases, a hundred cases of soap or slim or cheese, all these things.”

But competition became fierce with the influx of the Asian community and to keep the business open after Vance died, Nigel put his studies to work. Betty isn’t a trained pharmacist like her son, but she learned the ropes from him and now qualifies to sell over-the-counter medication. Nigel, on the other hand, handles all the prescribed medications.

Betty Coleman

“I said I’m gonna be the cashier, but then I said, well, you know what, I could learn something. So, I went around looking at the medications and reading some of them to the back. I don’t sell the prescription drugs because that is his job. Yeah, and I don’t want to get charged for something.”

The pair chose to keep the last branch of the business not just to honor its long legacy, but because it made good business sense. They take great pride in the courteous service they offer, which keeps customers coming back.

Casalina Sho, Customer

“I always come right here. Mm-hmm.”

Marion Ali

“This is your favorite spot?”

Casalina Sho

“Yes. Yes. It’s good. Excellent.”

Joseph Ramclam Sr., Customer

“We used to live in the village up the road – Mafredi/San Antonio Road and my father used to take we down by the shop because he used to do business with them too, because he had a little petty shop up the road. And he used to buy his groceries from them to resell to at Mafredi. They have very good relationship with people and they work along with people good and very mannerly.”

Sherene Garay-Usher, Customer

“My grandmother passed away three decades ago, but dehn days we used to buy groceries there. It was the place where everybody used to go. The people that serve at the store were very friendly – always – Mr. Vernon to today. And so you feel welcome for goh at the store goh buy and I could say up to now.”

With the arrival of Asian-owned stores and supermarkets, competition became fierce. As Nigel’s father, Vance, grew older, he passed the business down to Nigel, who decided to study pharmacology and transition into that direction. But the Vernon brand is experiencing a similar challenge with viability because of more pharmacies in the community. So, Nigel is thinking about adding a new dimension to the business to boost its strength and stay competitive in the challenging market.

Nigel Vernon

“Just doing the same like what we have at the moment, but basically do it in herbal stuff instead of doing just chemical medication. You can’t stay in one business forever now because it doesn’t work that way anymore.”

Interestingly, even though he is a trained medical scientist, Nigel believes that natural medicine is better for the body.

Nigel Vernon

“I personally would take the herbs over the scientific medication.”

Marion Ali

“Over what you’re selling now?”

Nigel Vernon

“Yeah.”

Marion Ali

“Why?”

Nigel Vernon

“Well, to me, I see it works better. The thing is that you have to be consistent with the herbal stuff. You have to be consistent. You have to take it every day for a longer period of time, but you get better results than when you do just the regular medications that the doctors would prescribe. Yes, you do get better, but with what? Cause sometimes you have side effects with most of these medications. Sometimes we don’t treat the problem and we just want to put a band aid on it and say, “oh, okay, I’m better now.”

Nigel dreams of seeing the business thrive in the future and hopes to eventually pass the torch to a successor.

Nigel Vernon

“Try to keep it in family.”

Marion Ali

“Fourth generation?”

Nigel Vernon

“Working on that one. Not yet. (Laughs)”

Marion Ali for News Five.