Tuesday, May 12, 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

Trudeau says that 'Canada is not a given' in farewell speech amid Trump threats

Trudeau says that 'Canada is not a given' in farewell speech amid Trump threats
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that freedom, democracy and Canada "are not a given" in his farewell speech to Liberals just before former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney was announced as the new Liberal leader.  This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens Canada with economic annexation and places tariffs on Canadian imports coming into the United States.

Trudeau says that 'Canada is not a given' in farewell speech amid Trump threats

Ironworkers Local 97 calls for 'immediate end' to Temporary Foreign Worker program

Ironworkers Local 97 calls for 'immediate end' to Temporary Foreign Worker program
Ironworkers Local 97 business manager Doug Parton said the union has been lobbying the federal government for years about shoring up the domestic skilled trades workforce. 

Ironworkers Local 97 calls for 'immediate end' to Temporary Foreign Worker program

RCMP announce murder charge in 2021 slaying of 52-year-old man in small B.C. town

RCMP announce murder charge in 2021 slaying of 52-year-old man in small B.C. town
Mounties in B.C. say a 64-year-old Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man in 70 Mile House in December 2021. B.C. RCMP say 52-year-old The-Thanh (Ted) Nguyen was found unresponsive at a home in the small community on Dec. 26, 2021 and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

RCMP announce murder charge in 2021 slaying of 52-year-old man in small B.C. town

North Shore Rescue team finds missing hiker after all-night search

North Shore Rescue team finds missing hiker after all-night search
A search and rescue team in North Vancouver says a missing hiker has been located after an all-night search. North Shore Rescue says the hiker was found "cold and wet, but uninjured" near Norvan Falls in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.

North Shore Rescue team finds missing hiker after all-night search

Three B.C. Conservatives kicked from the party will sit as Independents

Three B.C. Conservatives kicked from the party will sit as Independents
Three former B.C. Conservative legislators have announced they will sit as Independents in the provincial legislature. Dallas Brodie was kicked out of the party on Friday over her comments about residential schools, and Jordan Kealy and Tara Armstrong left the party saying Opposition Leader John Rustad had abandoned the truth.

Three B.C. Conservatives kicked from the party will sit as Independents

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien tells Trump to 'stop this nonsense'

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien tells Trump to 'stop this nonsense'
Moments before the new Liberal leader was announced on Sunday, former prime minister Jean Chrétien took to the stage to reprimand U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs and threats to Canada's sovereignty. Chrétien warned a crowd of Liberals gathered in Ottawa that Canada’s “long and fruitful” relationship with Americans was falling apart with continued hostility coming from the Trump administration.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien tells Trump to 'stop this nonsense'