Tonight, the hero of the hijacking, Howard Grange is at home recovering. 7News was there today as he got released from the hospital - and there for his very first stop - at the Divine Mercy Church to give thanks.
7news was the only one there-and Jules Vasquez reports:
When Howell Grange came out of the hospital this morning it was to applause from the Doctors and nurses that tended to him for 6 days.
When he arrived there last Thursday morning - they weren't sure he would make it - he had been stabbed 10 times, flown by helicopter to Healthcare Partners and had lost a lot of blood - while also aspirating and ingesting blood from the stab wound to his cheek and tongue.
Doctors performed emergency surgery and he was intubated and placed in an induced coma to stabilize his condition. From there, the 40 year old made slow, incremental. Improvements. He had a lot to recover from, his ear had nearly been sliced off, and the hijacker tried to stab him in the eye.
He also sliced him across the hand - and right through his cheek, which Grange says was an attempt to cut his throat.
The severity of his wounds are apparent - Taylor was trying to kill him - in a rage after realizing that had landed right back in Belize, not in the US.
But, Grange fought back and he somehow survived the attack. And today - he came out of the hospital - smiling but also emotional.
His first stop was the Church of Divine Mercy to give thanks for surviving an ordeal which he said only his faith could have accounted for. He limped into the church - his walking is still impaired by two stab wounds to the back., He was accompanied by his wife and daughter.
As he sat in the pew and reflected, Grange - who has been a rock throughout - perhaps allowed himself an emotional moment.
Because of the injury to his tongue, he could not take Holy Communion as his wife did.
But he did take ample blessings which he seemed grateful for after a near death experience.
And after a 15 minute mini service, Grange just wanted to say thanks:
Jules Vasquez
"Why was it so important to you to go straight to church?"
Howell Grange, Survived Hijacking
"To show the Belizean public that I fear God, I am God man, and thank him to give me the opportunity to be here again."
"I'd like to thank the Belizean public home and abroad, my friends abroad, for all the communication, all the texts, the calls, overwhelm. I had to come because through only him I could have done it."
Jules Vasquez
"You felt?"
Howell Grange, Survived Hijacking
"It was really hard, trust me, really, really hard. It wasn't an easy feeling. I'm a devoted to St. Jude, so I pray to him every day and to the good Lord so they have me here. That's why I had to come to church."
Jules Vasquez
"You survived the impossible? I think so. There's a God. There is, trust me."
And there is also a pilot who made sure to save the lives of all his passengers:
Howell Grange, Survived Hijacking
"I just did what I do. I had to do my job and get everybody home."
Jules Vasquez
"Even if - it wasn't sure that even you would make it, how did....?"
Howell Grange, Survived Hijacking
"I took a 50-50 chance and then later I'll give an interview when I really feel good about it. And then just give me a little time and I want to explain the whole to the public where it really happened inside the cockpit."
That story is for another day - but today Grange was all about grace and gratitude - this devotee to St Jude -the patron saint of hopeless causes, desperate situations, and the impossible - summoned his saint to get through a situation that was all three of those.
He says he always flew with a rosary and now carries it in his breast pocket - as he uses it now to carry him through a long recovery, of both physical and mental injury endured on that traumatic flight.