Monday, May 11, 2026
ADVT 
National

Lawyers for alleged B.C. hijacker get more time to prepare bail application

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Aug, 2025 11:07 AM
  • Lawyers for alleged B.C. hijacker get more time to prepare bail application

The man accused of hijacking a plane and triggering a security scare at Vancouver International Airport last month appeared briefly at a provincial court in Richmond, B.C., where his lawyers were granted an adjournment.

Shaheer Cassim attended the court virtually from Surrey Pretrial Centre wearing an orange sweatsuit.

He acknowledged he could see and hear the judge, and sat with his hands on his knees throughout the short video appearance, which lasted less than five minutes.

An articling student representing Cassim's defence lawyer, Kevin Westell, asked the court for a two-week adjournment as they continue to prepare a bail application.

The agent confirmed Cassim had agreed to remain in custody until his next appearance, which the judge scheduled for Sept. 2.

Cassim is a former commercial pilot who faces charges for allegedly taking a small aircraft from Victoria's airport on July 15 and flying it over the Vancouver airport before he was arrested upon landing.

The 39-year-old has been in custody at the pretrial facility in Surrey since his arrest and his court files have been placed under publication bans. 

He's been charged with hijacking, which is an offence constituting terrorism, and with damaging or interfering with a navigation system.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MORE National ARTICLES

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet
Prime Minister Mark Carney has named a 24-member cabinet, a team of ministers who will lead during the coming federal election campaign. Here's a list of ministers and their portfolios:

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet

Joly says G7 leaders have 'strong unity' on defending Ukraine

Joly says G7 leaders have 'strong unity' on defending Ukraine
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Friday that G7 countries have maintained their support for Ukraine, as she and her peers endorsed a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and called for a "political horizon" for Palestinians.

Joly says G7 leaders have 'strong unity' on defending Ukraine

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister
Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister in a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday morning — along with a leaner Liberal cabinet that he said is focused on confronting the immediate threat of U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. Breezing past reporters on his way into the ceremony about an hour after Justin Trudeau stepped down, Carney said his team was ready to go.

Mark Carney sworn in as Canada's 24th prime minister

Media outlets start receiving Google payments from Online News Act: journalism group

Media outlets start receiving Google payments from Online News Act: journalism group
Money has started to flow to Canadian news outlets from the $100 million Google agreed to pay them in exchange for an exemption from the Online News Act, the organization administering the fund said. The Canadian Journalism Collective announced Thursday that the first portion of cash sent to eligible news businesses amounted to $17.25 million, with additional payments slated to be transferred by the end of April.

Media outlets start receiving Google payments from Online News Act: journalism group

New poll suggests 40% of Canadians fear losing their jobs due to Trump's tariffs

New poll suggests 40% of Canadians fear losing their jobs due to Trump's tariffs
A new poll suggests that 40 per cent of Canadians are worried about losing their jobs as many businesses scale back hiring plans in response to the trade war with the United States. The Leger poll, which sampled more than 1,500 Canadian adults from March 7 to March 10, suggests that more than half of workers in Ontario were concerned about job security, the highest in the country, while just under one in four in Atlantic Canada said they were worried.

New poll suggests 40% of Canadians fear losing their jobs due to Trump's tariffs

Trump's ambassador pick says Canada is sovereign as president threatens annexation

Trump's ambassador pick says Canada is sovereign as president threatens annexation
The man set to become America's top diplomat in Ottawa said Thursday that Canada is a sovereign state — contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump, who is doubling down on his calls to make Canada a U.S. state.

Trump's ambassador pick says Canada is sovereign as president threatens annexation