Police issue official report on hijacked Tropic Air flight

Published by BBNTEAM at April 22, 2025

Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2025. 8:03 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Police have issued a formal report on the shocking incident that unfolded early Thursday morning – a Tropic Air plane was hijacked mid-flight from the Ranchito, Corozal-based municipal airstrip to San Pedro Town. Police first received reports of the hijacking at approximately 8:47 a.m., shortly after the aircraft took off at 8:16 a.m., carrying 14 passengers and a pilot.

According to Edwardo Novelo, the manager of Tropic Air, who was present at the office during the incident, he received information about the hijacking shortly after the flight departed about 16 minutes behind schedule.

After an hour and 40 minutes in the air as the plane meandered over the Belize District and as far east as Half Moon Caye in the Turneffe Atolls, police were stationed at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA) runway when the hijacked plane landed there around 10:15 AM. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as passengers exited the aircraft. Among them was Fitzgerald Brown, 60, who emerged with blood on his clothing and a firearm and knife in hand. Brown had reportedly shot the hijacker, who was attacking the pilot while the plane was still in the air.

The assailant, later identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, a 49-year-old U.S. national, was found sitting in the front passenger seat with critical injuries. Emergency responders pronounced him dead upon arrival at the hospital at 10:36 a.m.

Three passengers sustained injuries during the hijacking, with varying degrees of severity. Francesco Castañeda, 42, and Fitzgerald Brown were reported to be in stable condition and have since been released from hospital care, while Howell Grange, the 40-year-old pilot, was admitted in critical condition but received medical attention and is now stable, having issued his first public statement earlier today.

Police processed the scene and have recorded witness statements from passengers onboard the flight. At this time, no arrests have been made, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the violent incident.

A further update to this story will be issued later as more details emerge regarding this extraordinary event.

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