Is missing plane piloted by two Colombians linked to fateful shooting of Scot on remote Caribbean island?

By CLAIRE ELLIOT, SCOTTISH GENERAL NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:36, 29 June 2026 | Updated: 19:36, 29 June 2026 Caribbean police are probing the possibility that the fatal shooting of a Scots ex-pat could be linked to the disappearance of a plane piloted by two Columbians. As reported by the Mail on Monday, Daniel Vettrino was found with multiple gunshot wounds on a remote island in St Vincent and the Grenadines late on Wednesday. The 37-year-old, who was originally from Dysart, Fife, is reported to have been returning from a day out ‘when he was accosted and shot in a parking lot’ in the Gym Hill area of Canouan. Police are now understood to be probing the possibility that his death could be linked to the ‘disappearance’ of a plane earlier this month. Local media reports that the two pilots were from Columbia, where Mr Vettrino used to live. According to the island’s IWitness News, the aircraft made at least one round trip between Canouan and Argyle International Airport two days before it ‘disappeared’. It added that the Minister of National Security, St. Clair Leacock, previously said that the aircraft had been found and ‘no lives were lost’, but no other details were given as the situation was described as a ‘very delicate security matter’. Reports also state that two of Mr Vettrino’s co-workers at the luxury Canouan Estate Resort & Villas have since been arrested in connection with his death. Danny Vettrino was pronounced dead on the island of Canouan on Wednesday night He was working as a technical services manager at the resort on the island when the shooting – the second in the country is as many days - happened. The arrested men are understood to be Vincentian nationals, although this has yet to be confirmed by police. The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) confirmed that around 11:30pm on Wednesday, officers responded to a report of shots being fired at Gym Hill, Canouan. A spokesman added: ‘Upon arrival, officers discovered Daniel Vettrino, a 37-year-old Technical Services Manager of Colombia/Scotland, with multiple gunshot wounds about his body. He was subsequently pronounced dead by the District Medical Officer.’ He continued: ‘A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.’ The Scot’s aunt Kat Hartley said Mr Vettrino ‘was violently taken, robbed of the years he deserved, and the loss has shaken every part of the family’. She described her nephew as ‘one in a million’ who ‘lived a life shaped by courage, independence, and a determination to follow his own path’. Ms Hartley said on social media post: ‘Across his 36 years [sic], he travelled from Kirkcaldy to Egypt, then Colombia, and finally St Vincent, building a life that reflected his strength, resilience, and quiet pride. ‘He was one of five, a brother, son, nephew, cousin, and friend — loved deeply in every role he held. His journey was uniquely his: brave, stubborn, gentle, and unforgettable. He did it his way.’ His brother Robson Vettrino Kolberg, previously called him a ‘pure soul who only wanted success and happiness for all of those around him’. He added: ‘He has touched the lives of so many people, from his hometown in Fife to all corners of this world.’ Mr Vettrino’s friend, Laura Westwood, said her ‘old pal’ had ‘the biggest of hearts’ and was a ‘true gentleman’ who had the ‘most beautiful soul.’ It is understood he had moved to Colombia in 2023 before joining the luxury resort company in the Caribbean in 2024. Mr Vettrino worked as an estate and property manager in Colombia from September 2023 to August 2024. His LinkedIn account, posted on the networking site last year, states that he began working for the hotel company in August of that year. Before moving to Colombia he had worked in Egypt for nine years between 2015 and 2024. In his CV, Mr Vettrino described himself as a ‘management level certified professional with a vast amount of experience’. He said: ‘I am currently working in the Caribbean on luxury properties, managing the team and various trades under my direction and overseeing the day-to-day running of a resort whilst establishing friendly and professional working relationships with local vendors.’ His death is said to have brought the total number of homicides in St Vincent and the Grenadines to 19 this year. A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British national who died in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and we are in contact with the local authorities.’ No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. 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