In our first segment you heard from Howell Grange, the pilot who saved 16 souls and Belize's entire international reputation exactly one year ago. He tricked a hijacker into thinking they were flying to the US - when all the while they were just circling Belize - while Grange tried to think of a safe place to land.
It's one of the most remarkable and gutsy performances under pressure ever - and with the perspective of one year to reflect on it - Grange revisted the events of that day with us:
Jules Vasquez
"When you jumped in that plane one year ago - you thought...?"
Howell Grange, Pilot
"It was just going to be a next day at work. That was what I thought, I never did think- the flying thing you know you will lose an engine or get into a minor incident but never in my life I thought I would get hijacked for sure, that didn't even cross my mind, never, never, never, never."
But he ended up in an unprecedented event with a deranged hijacker directing him at knifepoint to fly to the US.
Jules Vasquez
"Tricking a man who is in a delusional psychotic state is not an easy thing to do and you were the right person at that time?"
Howell Grange, Pilot
"You know what some friends tell me, they say he wasn't crazy they say you were the crazy one, I was playing black jack, I was playing poker and I flip the correct card and we came home."
Jules Vaquez
"Wow."
Howell Grange, Pilot
"I mean that could have went totally wrong in all ways that could have gone totally wrong, totally wrong even we went through Mexico we would have never passed Mexico even if they let us pass we would have never reached nowhere close to the United states, I mean no way close they would have shot us down from far they wouldn't even let us get anywhere close to the airspace. And the only gamble I had was to stay around home, I know here like the back of my hand so when push came to shove I could have put it down on the highway lots of places that's why I was tripping trying to keep far from residential areas you know and it worked out for the best."
"I was never ready for it but I thinks a a country we did good that day - everybody. From the guys at the tower, to the response team everybody, everybody it was like a movie scene everything was just like planned. It could have been a lot worse, lot worse."
And this pilot was literally ready to die to keep his passengers alive:
Howell Grange, Pilot
"I was already willing to take the lick, I was already willing."
And while he will always be framed as Howell the hero - he has a different view:
Howell Grange, Pilot
"I tell everybody I might be the hero for everybody, but Mr Fitz is my hero."
Jules Vasquez
"Yeah."
Howell Grange, Pilot
"I tell that to everyone I talk to. I will always respect that man."
Jules Vasquez
"He saved your life."
Howell Grange, Pilot
"Oh yes for sure, for sure, sure, sure, that was no doubt, no doubt about it."
"I am forever grateful for him."
And Grange says all 16 persons on that plane carry an indelible imprint of what happened that day:
Howell Grange, Pilot
"Everybody still affected by it - nobody can't tell me that they aren't affected by the situation."
And for this survivor an even event where they tried to kill him - gratitude is built on acceptance:
Howell Grange, Pilot
"Radical acceptance yes, you just face it and you deal with it you know it is a day by day healing process."
Grange says he plans to launch a private venture soon and will keep us posted.
