Category: Hijacking

Belizean pilot Howell Grange is calling it his “second birthday”, the day he survived a terrifying mid-air hijacking that nearly cost him his life. Back in April, he was flying a routine Tropic Air flight when the unthinkable happened. A forty-nine-year-old American passenger, a military veteran, suddenly turned violent, stabbing two passengers and Grange himself, demanding the plane leave Belize. But thanks to the quick action of a brave, armed passenger, the attacker was stopped, and the plane made a safe emergency landing in Ladyville. Grange was seriously injured, but his recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s now in Western New York, undergoing intensive rehab at a clinic in West Seneca. His daily routine includes chiropractic care, physical therapy, and wellness treatments, up to five sessions a day. Doctors say he’s already regained ninety-five percent of his physical abilities.

Three weeks after an American national hijacked a Tropic Air flight and was fatally shot, Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler is addressing the incident’s impact on Belize’s tourism sector. Mahler has been working closely with the National Security Council to ensure safety measures are in place. He reassures potential visitors that Belize remains a safe destination, emphasizing the country’s commitment to security and the well-being of tourists.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“We were a part of the entire discussion from the whole thing started. We were in constant communication with the security people and we had a national security council meeting that we were invited to on that same morning after the tragic event happened. I want to say thank you to the pilot and all the people on board who withstood that madness.”

Reporter

“Do you think it will have any negative impact on the tourism industry?”

Anthony Mahler

“Anything like that has an impact. It will, so we have to do damage control and send out the right information, that Belize is still a safe destination, compared to many and that it is still worthwhile coming to Belize.”

In response to the hijacking incident on April seventeenth, Tropic Air has introduced new security protocols across all its domestic stations to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, crew, and the communities it serves. Passengers will now undergo mandatory security screening and physical searches. Before boarding any Tropic Air domestic flight, all passengers and their personal items will be thoroughly checked. This includes both over-the-counter check-in and gate-check options, which are available at no extra cost. Additionally, passengers and their belongings may be subject to physical searches. While children are generally exempt from these searches, they must still declare themselves by emptying their pockets and lifting garments to reveal the waist area if there is suspicion of carrying prohibited items. Tropic Air assures that it is committed to continuously evaluating and improving its security procedures to maintain the highest standards of safety and service.

Today, the Belize Ministry of Civil Aviation held a press conference to address the Holy Saturday Tropic Air hijacking, two weeks after the tragic incident. When asked why they chose to hold the press conference now, Ministry CEO Narda Garcia explained that they wanted to ensure a thorough investigation was conducted and all facts were gathered before speaking publicly. The press conference lasted about an hour and a half and included representatives from the Joint Intelligence Operation Center, the Belize Defense Force, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. One of the main topics discussed was the increased security measures at domestic aerodromes. Nigel Carter, the Director of Aviation, provided insights into what these new measures will look like for passengers moving forward.

Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation

“The Government of Belize deployed police officers to all aerodromes. The CEO in the ministry consulted with the domestic airlines and we asked or required them to put in place basic security measures, passenger screening, bag screening and so forth. That to date is still currently ongoing. I would be remiss if I don’t highlight the fact that we have previously worked with the Belize Airport Authority in so far as strengthening airport security. They have currently engaged a private security company with the intent of this company providing aviation security at the different aerodromes where commercial air services occur. I can say that the employees of this security company are currently being trained. We have clearly defined prohibited items, items that cant go on an aircraft and we plan to conduct a public awareness campaign to ensure that the general public is a ware of what they can and cannot go on an aircraft. Firearms can’t go on an aircraft. You must declare it steps are taken to ensure that aircraft is not in the cabin. Something as simple as a lighter is not allowed to be taken on an aircraft. We will improve the process of interviewing passengers, so asking them questions, sir madam is there any time you are taking on board that should be prohibited, small interviews to make sure that they are ware they should not be taking any item on the aircraft.”

We also heard from Stanley Gideon, the Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, who was inside the air traffic control tower as the hijacking unfolded. He noted that the tower detected the emergency at 8:17 that morning and immediately sprang into action. We’ve reported that the pilot, Howell Grange, had to deceive the hijacker into thinking they were flying to the U.S. As remarkable as that story is, it wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise and calmness displayed by the air traffic controllers. Gideon shared his perspective on the situation.

Stanley Gideon, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation

“This entire event continued to unfold and between eight seventeen and eight thirty-seven form the aircraft saying he had been hijacked and who was onboard and wanted to go to the United States, we coordinated with an aircraft in the vicinity to check with the aircraft that had the emergency and they confirmed there was a hijacking in progress. In the split moment, the pilot had the ability to speak in Spanish, because the hijacker obviously English speaking. This is where the ruse started. He asked them to please speak in Spanish. He told them to pretend that he was going through Mexico airspace on his way to the United States. And, when he got closer and the ruse is, that when they had transversed Mexican airspace to have an American voice come on. This went without a hitch. The amazing part is that ATC picked up on the pilot’s ruse and for the next hour and a half in the airspace, this aircraft, never left Belizean airspace. The pilot flew in a way to confuse the hijacker. But this was a skillful ruse between the air traffic controllers and the pilot to put this entire flight in different regions, but it stayed over Belize. That coordination cannot be matched at any level, how the pilot and the ATC worked to pull off this ruse.”

Director Carter mentioned that a contract is being finalized with a private security company to enhance the security of Belize’s airspace. While the name of the company wasn’t disclosed, it’s been confirmed that personnel are currently undergoing training. Starting next week, the police officers currently stationed at domestic aerodromes will be replaced by the security company. So, who will cover the costs for this new measure? The Belize Airport Authority will fund the first year. After that, airplane passengers can expect a slight increase in the cost of domestic travel.

Narda Garcia, C.E.O., Ministry of Civil Aviation

“This morning in discussions with the airlines we were talking about that. What I do know from the meetings I went to the BAA, talking conceptually about the whole issue of security services, BAA indicated that they can absorb the cost for one year, but after that they would have to levy a fee for security services. If you look at the changes at the PGIA there is a fee for security services that is paid by the traveler or the people. We will have to look at where to pay that. We will either have to do that. I don’t know where we will do that, either pay it separately or on the ticket of the passengers.”

Paul Lopez

“So, it signals a potential increase in air travel cost domestically?”

Narda Garcia

“Yes, definitely.”

Paul Lopez

“Is there any considerations being given have terminal that are completely ran and managed by government while entering into contracts with airlines to use these facility. Is that a countermeasure being considered for the medium or long term?”

Nigel Carter, Director, Department of Civil Aviation

“I did mention that this is part of the mid-to-long solution. We have to have single terminals where airlines are tenants as opposed to owning the terminal building.

With a singular terminal building, you have single apparatus for improved passenger flows and security as well.”

Narda Garcia

“Last year we entered into an agreement with IDB to do a full fledged masterplan for airport aerodromes. So the issue of security and infrastructure will be addressed through that masterplan for the local aerodromes.”

The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s media briefing comes after U.D.P. Queen Square Area Representative, Godwin Haylock, criticized the Briceño administration for not holding a press conference on the national emergency sooner. Although the announcement of the conference came just hours after Haylock’s comments, he argued that the government should have addressed the public in real time. Here’s what Haylock had to say.

Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square

“Today I must speak on the fact that the entire nation is still waiting for an official government press conference on the hijacking of the tropic airplane on April 17^th. This press conference was to be held in real time immediately after the incident, yet the government to date has refused to hold a real press conference. I beg the question why, and the only answer I can come up with is since winning March 12^th, the government is overconfident, they feel that it will pass over like a breeze. Now we all know that the PM is the minister responsible for the Civil Aviation, however we have been reliably informed that he was out of the country seeking medical attention so we would have expected that the Department of Civil Aviation or the Belize Airports Authority would take the lead on this matter.”