SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY-AIRPORT) - Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) proudly announces the winners of the ToppiX 2026 Aviation Photography Competition, marking the exciting return of the contest after a 10-year hiatus.
This year’s edition brought the competition back with a special theme: “The First Landing of Southwest Airlines in SXM,” inviting photographers to capture a historic milestone for the island’s aviation sector.
After careful evaluation by the jury, three winners were selected:
3rd Place: Sabih Sebastiaan Haasdijk
2nd Place: Jachiem Richardson (HD Fly)
1st Place: Paul Ellinger
The winning image by Paul Ellinger stood out for its exceptional composition, striking use of color, and strong sense of place, clearly capturing the iconic surroundings of SXM.
A particularly unique element noted by the judges was the shadow of the aircraft within the image, which closely aligns with the airport’s branding. The “X” in SXM symbolizes an aircraft, with the line beneath representing its shadow, making this photograph a powerful and meaningful visual representation of the airport’s identity.
“As soon as I captured this moment, I knew it was something special,” said Paul Ellinger. “To have my photo selected as the winner is truly an honor. SXM is such a unique place for aviation photography, and I’m proud to be part of capturing that story.”
As the grand prize winner, Paul Ellinger’s photograph will be prominently featured as the new backdrop in the terminal building, offering passengers the opportunity to capture their own memories with this iconic image.
In addition, the photo will be showcased as the header image on the official SXM Airport website.
Princess Juliana International Airport congratulates all winners and participants for their creativity and passion. The return of the ToppiX competition highlights the strong connection between aviation, destination, and the community and reaffirms SXM’s position as one of the world’s most iconic aviation locations.
https://www.soualiganewsday.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=65192:princess-juliana-international-airport-announces-toppix-2026-winners&Itemid=450
