A former commercial pilot accused of hijacking a small aircraft and causing a security alert at Vancouver International Airport made a brief appearance at a court in Richmond, B.C. Shaheer Cassim, dressed in an orange sweatsuit, attended the virtual court session from Surrey Pretrial Centre. During the appearance, he remained attentive as his lawyers requested a two-week adjournment to prepare a bail application. Cassim agreed to stay in custody until his next court date on Sept. 2.
Charged with allegedly taking the small plane from Victoria’s airport and flying over Vancouver before being apprehended, Cassim faces accusations of threatening a flight instructor and disrupting airspace with an ideological motive, according to Richmond RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb. Despite the deployment of F-15 jets by NORAD in response to the incident, it was resolved peacefully before their arrival, and no injuries were reported.
The 39-year-old’s arrest led to delays and diversions at the airport, with his court proceedings currently under publication bans. He faces charges of hijacking and interfering with a navigation system.