2025-04-23 - Channel 5 Belize

EXCLUSIVE: Belizean Hero’s Brave Account of Life-Saving Heroism During Thursday’s Harrowing Hijacking

Less than a week ago, Captain Howell Grange found himself in a life-and-death situation straight out of a movie. On Holy Thursday morning, he boarded his Tropic Air flight in Ranchito for what should have been a routine twenty-minute trip to San Pedro. Instead, the flight turned into a horrific two-hour hijacking ordeal. Despite being badly wounded, Captain Grange managed to land the plane safely and live to tell the tale. This afternoon, Tropic Air issued a statement thanking the community for their support during this challenging time. Shortly after, Captain Grange was wheeled out of Belize Healthcare Partners Limited, greeted by applause from hospital staff, friends, and family. Before heading home, Captain Howell Grange made his first stop at the Divine Mercy Church, where he and his family attend mass every Sunday. He was there to give thanks for surviving the ordeal. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Howell Grange, Pilot, Tropic Air

“When I found out I was going to be released, I told my wife I need to go to church before we get home. I think I owe everything right now to the good Lord. That’s why I’m here because right when the deal started, I prayed to him and asked him to fill me with the strength and the knowledge to get to that man’s head, so all we have a good outcome for the day.”

Holy Thursday turned out to be a good day for the passengers and Captain Grange, despite the critical injuries inflicted by hijacker Akinyela Taylor. Taylor took control of the aircraft soon after takeoff, Grange recounted, as he relived the harrowing experience.

Howell Grange

“I took off normal, crossing over Cerros, then I started to hear the commotion and that’s when I saw when Mr. Brown, he was already injured and Mr. Castaneda was already injured, so I started to turn back to Corozal. Then that’s when he said it was a hijacking and then he demanded the little boy to go to the back, everyone to the back, and everyone went to the back. And he started telling me I was going to take him to the United States. So, I said, okay, no problem. So, I told him which airport you want to go? So, I found my airport in the GPS, the G-1000 equipment we use, and I put it in and I move it from the map. So he was not seeing where I’m going.”

Seeing two passengers bleeding, Captain Grange knew the situation was dire. He contacted air traffic control in Spanish to alert them about the unfolding crisis. Then, he cleverly flew over water to confuse the hijacker.

Howell Grange

“I started to head over to the international airport, but I passed behind the international airport. I told him we’re heading into Mexican territory, and I had spoken to the controllers over the radio and asked them to speak in Spanish and they understood what I was trying to do. Then I went out at sea, came back, but different direction, not in the same route. So he doesn’t recognize any area.”

Marion Ali

“Yes, we saw the loops.”

Howell Grange

“Yeah, so I was mainly trying to fly over water. It’s hard to get orientated over water and I was changing altitude every minute just to change the direction, you know, try to head back closer to Belize and just try to stay over water as much as I could. I had asked them to please get someone that speaks proper American English, and they got someone and they were vectoring me to the final, and this was already like an hour and change into flight, so when I was landing, he thought he was landing in the US.”

But the hijacker soon realized that he was not in the US and that was when he also stabbed Grange.

Howell Grange

“He said he doesn’t recognize the airport for me to go around. So, I went back out and that’s when we started to argue in the airplane, me and him. And he told me, if you’re not gonna take me to the airport, then we all gonna die here today.”

Marion Ali

“What airport was that?”

Howell Grange

“I don’t remember the name, it was one in the U.S, somewhere in Missouri, Mississippi, or something like that. I don’t really recall, but I started heading back. Well, I started to argue with him because I wanted to distract him from seeing me getting closer to the airport. At the same time I was descending that time. I only had about 10 minutes more of fuel, and I decided to land. When he realized it was not where he wanted to be, then the whole scuffle start inside the airplane.”

Marion Ali

“That’s when he stabbed you?”

Howell Grange

“Yeah, he stabbed me, yeah.”

After Taylor stabbed him, Captain Grange cut off the plane’s engine and they began to fight inside the aircraft. Taylor inflicted ten stab wounds on Grange, including one behind his ear that cut through his tongue and another serious wound to his right hand. Suddenly, two gunshots rang out.

Howell Grange

“He hit me in my chin here. He was a pretty skillful guy with the knife, pretty skillful guy with the knife. He tried to hit my temple, but I had my shades on and this was the biggest one. I was trying to hold his hand and then he just grabbed the knife and sliced it open.”

Grange is at home recovering now, something he said was first on his mind.

Marion Ali

“What was going through your mind?”

Howell Grange

“Getting home to my family, getting home to my family, that was playing through my mind. That’s all I wanted.”

Captain Grange endured ten stab wounds, each narrowly missing vital vessels that could have been fatal. He now looks forward to a full recovery and hopes to return to the pilot’s seat one day. Marion Ali for News Five.

New Security Measures at the Municipal Airstrip

Belize’s municipal airstrips have ramped up security after Thursday’s Tropic Air hijacking scare. Thankfully, all passengers escaped unharmed, but the incident could have become tragic if the hijacker had been armed with deadlier weapons. News Five’s Britney Gordon caught up with a passenger at the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airstrip to get the scoop on the new safety protocols.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It’s been nearly a week since the hijacking of a Tropic Air flight in Belizean skies. In response, the Belize Airports Authority has implemented new security measures. Lydia De Los Santos, a passenger flying to Placencia, shares her thoughts on the changes.

Britney Gordon

“So can you talk a little bit about the security measures that you have seen here at this in comparison to some of the other security measures that you’ve had on other planes?”

Lydia De Los Santos, Passenger

“I think it’s the same, just in a smaller scale. Because they still have the metal detectors. Your bag has to get checked.”

She explained that the new procedures are not complex and don’t take much time.

Lydia De Los Santos

“We got our boarding passes. We had a show passports, just like at a big air airport. And they checked our bags. And when we got to this particular one and they gave us our boarding pass here.”

Britney Gordon

“How many bags are you guys traveling with?”

Lydia De Los Santos

“Two.”

Britney Gordon

“And are you allowed to have a purse?”

Lydia De Los Santos

“It’s two luggage and a carry-on.”

Britney Gordon

“So you are allowed to keep your carry-on?”

Lydia De Los Santos

“Yes.”

Passengers can still bring a personal item, but now they must go through a metal detector scan.

Lydia De Los Santos

“They did the metal detector and they checked the bag, I don’t know if they went in the bag, but they checked the bag. So I don’t know if they went in it.”

De Los Santos is traveling with caution but feels reassured by the new security measures.

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel that this is sufficient enough for your safety?”

Lydia DeLos Santos

“Are we ever really safe? I live on a prayer, so I’m satisfied.”

Britney Gordon

“And it’s comparable to other airports, maybe just on a smaller scale?”

Lydia De Los Santos

“Smaller scale.”

Britney Gordon

“And is there any sort of maybe hesitation that you have given the recent news of what happened? Or do you feel that it’s been taken care of?”

Lydia De Los Santos

“I did see the news. My sister sent it to me right the day before I’m coming, so I’m like, again I trust Jesus. I do everything afraid because in this world, nothing is really safe anymore, but I trust that the Lord’s gonna keep me safe. So that’s it.”

Britney Gordon for News Five

Hijacked Plane Returned to Tropic Air

Thursday’s terrifying hijacking concluded when the plane finally landed at the Philip Goldson International Airport after spending two hours in the air. Upon landing, chaos erupted on the runway as medical personnel and police rushed to the aircraft. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, explains how the team was able to handle the situation without disrupting the scheduled traffic at the airport.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“For me my objective was to make sure that we clear the runway as quickly as possible so as not to hinder any of the international flights that were scheduled to arrive on that day. And so after the plane landed, considering that the runway was not the crime scene, but whether the plane was the crime scene. I had directed the plane to remove from the runway and taken to the you call it apron, whatever that part of the airport is for it to be processed by scenes of crime. And so within half an hour time, the runway was clear. And I don’t think that any of the international flights had any delay in landing. I think they all arrived on time and they landed well and took off well. So I believe, again, our efforts in terms of coordinating that was extremely good. Civil Aviation was on the ball as well as Airport Authority in making sure that the runway was not only cleared, but after the runway has been cleared. I think there is some physical checks that need to be made on the runway to make sure that it is safe for landing. That was also done so that the aircraft that were supposed to come in on that day could have been notified that there was no delay in them coming into the country.”

Reporter

“So what happens to the plan now? Is that tendered into evidence?”

Chester Williams

“We don’t need to hold a plan pending the outcome of any court case in this case. I don’t think that there’s going to be a court case, but what would’ve been done should there be one? For example, if Mr. Taylor was alive and would be prosecuted. Through the DPP office, a letter could have been issued to properly process and photograph the aircraft, and that would’ve been done in presence of a JP or a magistrate. And with that then the plane could have been returned to Tropic Air for normal operations while the case is still pending.”

Tropic Air Flight Hijacking Not Classified as an Act of Terrorism

Details are still unfolding about Akinyela Taylor’s hijacking of the Tropic Air flight. Police report that Taylor was kicked out of PGIA for trying to board a flight without a ticket and was later denied entry to both Mexico and Belize. Commissioner Chester Williams says it’s still a mystery why Taylor came to Belize and what drove him to commit the crime.

Reporter

“In terms of the department investigation, has anything been uncover about why Mr. Taylor was here? If he had any contacts here what he had been doing before Thursday’s incident?”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We don’t have any information in terms of why he was here other than the fact that he might have been a tourist. In terms of contacts, I’ve seen some video footage that showed him in certain areas. People questioned him about what he was doing. And he said he was a normal backpacker moving around. So we do not per se, stop people from coming into the country if they’re coming as tourists.”

Reporter

“And then last thing in terms, I think there have been some that have been open about calling this a terrorist incident. I don’t think terrorism in the normal definition is what happened here, but would you be able to clarify that aspect?”

Chester Williams

“Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Act, it would not meet the threshold of an act of terror. So should he have survived this this ordeal, he would’ve been charged perhaps for kidnapping, attempt murder along those lines, but not for terrorism.”

National Student Union Speaks on UB Lecturer Allegations

The National Student Union of Belize (NSUB) has issued a strong condemnation of sexual harassment and misconduct, following allegations against University of Belize Lecturer, Doctor Pio Saqui, by at least four female students. The union stands with the brave students who have come forward, acknowledging their courage. These allegations against Doctor Saqui span over a decade and include reports of unwanted touching, unsolicited comments, and inappropriate messages. NSUB finds these details deeply troubling and calls for a thorough and transparent response from the nation. The union supports the university’s decision to place Doctor Saqui on administrative leave and initiate a full investigation. They are advocating for a swift, comprehensive, and independent investigation, along with stronger measures to prevent sexual harassment and ensure a safe learning environment for all students. Stay tuned as we continue to follow this story.

Former Murder Suspect Faces New Charges for Sexual Assault and Wounding

Emerson Garnett, a thirty-four-year-old from Freetown Road, Belize City, faced new charges of sexual assault and wounding in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning. Previously a murder suspect, Garnett has been in custody since Sunday. He appeared before Magistrate Ludlow Black without representation and pleaded not guilty to both charges. The allegations stem from a domestic incident on April twentieth, 2025, where Garnett allegedly grabbed the private parts of a thirty-eight-year-old woman and caused her injury. The victim, who was once in a relationship with Garnett, reported that he tried to hug her, and when she refused, he threatened to kill her and himself. Garnett then allegedly assaulted her, punching her several times in the face. Despite hearing the victim’s account, Garnett maintained his innocence. Magistrate Black informed him that he need not explain further since he had pleaded not guilty. With no objection to bail from the prosecutor, conditions were set for Garnett’s release, including no contact with the victim or her family, staying one hundred yards away from her, and reporting to the Queen Street Police Station every Friday. Garnett met bail and is due back in court on June eleventh, 2025.

Belize City Mom Out on Bail for Alleged Cyberbullying of Ex-Co-worker

Tonight, a Belize City mother is out on bail after being accused of cyberbullying a former co-worker. Armida Adela Gonzalez, a 49-year-old self-employed resident of West Street, Belize City, faced charges under the Cybercrime Act for allegedly sending obscene and vulgar computer data to harass Kiara Middleton. Gonzalez appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black, who read her the single charge. She pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor requested bail conditions, including that Gonzalez must stay 100 yards away from Middleton and not interfere with her. Gonzalez explained that they used to work together but no longer do. Bail was set at $500, which Gonzalez met. Her next court date is June 12, 2025.

Trump Administration Shuts Down Millennium Challenge Corporation

The Trump administration is shutting down the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a foreign aid agency that collaborates with over fifty countries, including Belize, to boost economic growth. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, announced the decision in an email to employees on Tuesday. The Millennium Challenge Corporation currently manages over five billion dollars in active grants across twenty lower-income countries. These grants are either signed or in the process of being implemented. On September fourth, 2024, the Government of Belize and MCC signed a landmark five-year US$125 million Grant Agreement. This funding would have been directed towards significant investments in Belize’s education and energy sectors. The Education Project focused on increasing the number of post-primary graduates with skills relevant to the current and future job market. This would be achieved by transforming teaching methods, improving access to secondary education, and strengthening the legal and institutional framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Meanwhile, the Energy Project aimed to reduce electricity costs by facilitating new power purchase agreements for affordable renewable energy, modernizing the grid to handle variable power generation efficiently, and supporting the Government of Belize in enhancing policies and regulations for the effective use of renewable energy. Both projects were to be managed by the newly established Millennium Challenge Account-Belize (MCA-Belize Authority), a statutory body formed in August 2024. Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño represented the Government of Belize, while CEO Mrs. Alice Albright signed on behalf of MCC. Project implementation was set to begin in 2025. The Department of Government Efficiency’s move to target MCC adds to the Trump administration’s broader efforts to cut back on foreign aid groups.

Meet Juan Carillo, Belize’s 2025 Junior Farmer of the Year

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced its 2025 Farmers of the Year, just in time for the National Agriculture and Trade Show. These awards celebrate farmers for their dedication to food security and innovative practices. Today, we visited San Lazaro Village to chat with the Junior Farmer of the Year, twenty-five-year-old Juan Carillo. Juan dropped out of high school at fifteen to help with the family farm. At eighteen, he left to try another job, but less than a year ago, his younger brother convinced him to return as a business partner. Now, the Carillo brothers are making waves in the agriculture sector. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Twenty-five-year-old Juan Carillo from San Lazaro has snagged the title of 2025 Junior Farmer of the Year. Carillo and his two brothers oversee more than a hundred acres of farmland in their village.

Juan Carillo, Junior Farmer of the Year

“What we do here is plant vegetables and work with the livestock also. I get into farming since I was twelve years old. I started farming with my dad. He left and I left too. I came back when I was fifteen and started on my own. I left studying and did it on my own. I did it for two or three year and one day my little brother called me and said he want to do it again and I said let us do it and here we are working together.”

The brothers have more than twenty sheep on their farm. They are well taken care of, with plenty of land to graze on, and are sold based on demand. When their owner calls out to them, the sheep come forward eagerly. The cows, initially far off, also come running when called.

Paul Lopez

“You said that at the age of fifteen you did not want to continue school anymore.”

Juan Carillo

“I did not like it, so I just drop off.”

Paul Lopez

“What is your thoughts on going to school to learn. Do you feel like you need to go?”

Juan Carillo

“Actually, I don’t feel like I need to go to learn. It is like other students, when they go to study agriculture if they go to study and don’t practice, they don’t know anything.”

Juan’s brother, Amin Carillo, persuaded him to come back to farming less than a year ago. At the time, both brothers lived away from the community. When their grandfather, who originally owned the farm, fell ill, someone needed to step in. Now, Juan and Amin are business partners, working together to keep the family farm thriving.

Amir Carillo, Farmer, San Lazzaro

“First of all I give thanks to the lord that we have this opportunity. We have my grandfather and father that teach us how to do agriculture.”

Paul Lopez

“Your brother received the Junior Farmer of the Year Award, but as he pointed out it is a team effort. Talk about how proud you are of him.”

Amir Carillo

“I am proud, because two of us are working good. We don’t argue, we don’t fight. We find this work fun. Sometimes when we are transplanting we said, let us race, who good do it faster.”

The soursop trees produce huge fruits that even the birds can’t resist. To keep the birds away, the brothers placed a pair of sunshades on one of the fruits. They’ve harvested over a thousand pounds of tomatoes and hundreds of pounds of cabbage. More than two thousand seedlings are ready for transplanting. Watermelon seedlings are already in the ground, and hundreds of sweet pepper plants are starting to bear vegetables. The farm also grows corn, cucumber, cilantro, and habanero peppers.

Paul Lopez

“What is the hardest thing about this job?”

Juan Carillo

“The hardest thing? Well I don’t think nothing is hard.”

More impressive than the vegetables they grow and the livestock they raise are Juan Carillo’s exceptional record-keeping skills. He meticulously tracks everything they cultivate, all sales to the market, and even anticipates future market needs. Additionally, the brothers’ advanced irrigation system plays a crucial role in their efforts to combat climate change.

Juan Carillo

“For me it is an honor for being the junior farmer of the year and my family is so proud of me.”

Paul Lopez

“What would you say was the main reasons why you got this award?”

Juan Carillo

“A part of the vegetables we have, they were seeing how we work and record keeping too. Like, let us say if you plant cabbage, you plant this amount, and when you sell, you have to see how much you spend, how much you make and from there you will see how much you win or how much you lose.”

Amir Carillo

“If God give us the life and the opportunity, my brother and I, this is our life, we love this so, I don’t think we will quit planting.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

TIDE Says Guatemalan Fishers Illegally Entering Belizean Waters

Residents from a Guatemalan fishing community claim Belizean authorities are violating their human rights by preventing them from fishing in their waters. The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) has responded to these claims. Leonardo Chavarria, TIDE’s Executive Director, explained that the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve was recently expanded to over three hundred thousand acres to protect the newly discovered Caiman Crown Reef. While most of this reef is within Belize’s territory, part of it falls within Guatemalan waters. Chavarria noted that in 2020, Guatemalan authorities declared their portion a protected no-take zone. However, following the fishermen’s allegations, the Guatemalan government has reversed this declaration, leading the fishermen to believe they can fish beyond Guatemala’s marine border.

Leonardo Chavarria, Executive Director, TIDE

“What transpired recently is that there is a community which works very close to the Caiman Crown Area, about two miles. That community is entitled San Francisco Del Mar. If you notice, what they do is that they released a video in which they are expressing their dissatisfaction with the type of enforcement that Belize has in that area. In that video they are making a lot of allegations that are untrue. They are saying that we are violating their human rights, taking away their fishing gear and that we have been shooting live rounds and threatening their lives. None of that is true. The truth is these fishers have opened fire on Belizean law enforcement authorities, including the Belize Coast Guard and TIDE personnel. Gunfire was never exchanged with them. So, our authorities exercise restraint. However, the allegations of human rights are really pronounced in Guatemala that the ministry of natural resources and environment and the ministry responsible for protected area designation is issuing a press release in why they are saying that they are not in accordance with a recent bill proposed in the Guatemalan Congress to include Caiman Crown within the protected area. The impression portrayed out there to the Guatemalan communities is that it is a free for all and that status formally held in which the Caiman Crown area was a no take zone. The fishers can fish without real enforcement form Guatemalan NGOS. You will see more illicit fishing gears such a s gill nets, long lines, even in Belize. They are saying they have authority over six miles extending from the Caiman Crown area which brings them well into Belizean territory.”