Traveling by air through Belize’s municipal aerodromes, including the John Greif II Municipal Airport in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, was forever changed following a hijacking on Holy Thursday 2025. One year later, enhanced security protocols remain in place at all municipal airports, with every passenger and their personal belongings thoroughly screened before boarding domestic flights.
The new measures were implemented after the hijacking of a routine Tropic Air flight traveling from Corozal Town to San Pedro by American national Akinyela Sawa Taylor on April 17, 2025. Armed with a knife, Taylor injured two passengers, San Pedro businessman Fitzgerald Brown and Tropic Air employee Franchesco Castañeda, before proceeding to the cockpit, where he instructed pilot Howell Grange to divert the flight to the United States.
Grange’s handling of the situation led Taylor to believe the aircraft was heading north, even as it remained within Belizean airspace for over an hour. The ordeal ended as the plane approached landing at the Philip Goldson International Airport, when Taylor realized they were still in Belize.
He then attacked Grange in an attempt to take control of the aircraft. Despite his injuries, Grange successfully landed the plane. Taylor was fatally shot by one of the passengers he had previously stabbed.
Since the incident, security screening at local airports has become standard. Before the hijacking, passengers often arrived just minutes before departure and boarded flights without any checks. Under the new protocols, passengers are advised to check in between 30 minutes and one hour before departure. Before boarding, security personnel, including police officers, screen all passengers and their belongings. One passenger told The San Pedro Sun that while the process may cause slight delays, it is considered necessary for overall safety. These measures are expected to remain in place across all municipal airports.
Today, the injured passengers, along with pilot Grange, continue to recover from the trauma of the incident. Grange is still undergoing treatment for his physical injuries and has shared that he continues to have trouble sleeping due to lingering flashbacks.
The incident significantly impacted Belize’s aviation industry but ultimately led to stronger safety measures, making domestic air travel safer.
