Pilot Howell Grange Honoured as a Belizean Patriot

Fourteen passengers and two crew members made it home alive because one pilot kept his calm during a hijacking at knifepoint. On Thursday night, Belize recognised him for it.

Pilot Howell Grange was one of 25 people conferred national awards at the Tribute to Belizean Patriots ceremony, held at the foot of the historic Swing Bridge in Belize City as part of Belize’s Independence festivities. 

In a wave of applause, Governor General Froyla Tzalam placed the Medal of Valor Award around his neck.

“Despite all the adversity, despite everything that went on, despite the threat on his life, despite attacked physically, despite his passengers being attacked, he was able to keep a level head and come up with a plan,” the presenter said. “I think that is really what separates what happened that day and makes it so heroic.”

Grange was flying a Tropic Air Cessna Caravan from Corozal to San Pedro on 17th April last year when 49-year-old US military veteran Akinyela Sawa Taylor hijacked the aircraft at knifepoint. He landed the plane safely at the Philip Goldson International Airport, but he and two passengers, Fitzgerald Brown and Jair Castañeda, were stabbed during the ordeal. A passenger on board shot and killed Taylor moments after the plane touched down.

Grange was hospitalised in critical condition over the Easter weekend that followed. It took him months to recover from the injuries he sustained on the day of the attack.