Princess Juliana International Airport has announced the winners of its ToppiX 2026 Aviation Photography Competition, marking the return of the contest after a ten-year break.
This year’s theme focused on the first Southwest Airlines landing in Sint Maarten, inviting photographers to capture a major moment for the island’s aviation sector.
Taking first place was Paul Ellinger, whose winning image of the Southwest landing impressed judges for its composition, color, and strong visual impact. They also highlighted a striking detail in the photo—the aircraft’s shadow—which closely connects to the airport’s own SXM branding.
Second place went to Jachiem Richardson, also known as HD Fly, while third place was awarded to Sabih Sebastiaan Haasdijk.
As the grand prize winner, Ellinger’s photo will now be featured as the new backdrop inside the terminal building and will also appear as the header image on the official SXM Airport website.
Airport officials say the return of ToppiX reflects the strong connection between aviation, destination, and community, while reinforcing SXM’s reputation as one of the world’s most iconic plane-spotting locations.