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

B.C. man found guilty in 2022 double homicide, attempted murder

B.C. man found guilty in 2022 double homicide, attempted murder
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says a man has been found guilty of a double murder and an attempted murder that happened in Surrey more than two years ago. It says that, on July 30, 2022, police responded to reports of a shooting at the South Surrey Athletic Park and found three people suffering from gunshot wounds.

B.C. man found guilty in 2022 double homicide, attempted murder

Freeland announces plan to cap grocery profits, expand competition

Freeland announces plan to cap grocery profits, expand competition
Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland has pitched a plan to lower food prices, tackling a key part of the cost-of-living issue that plagued her for much of her time as minister of finance. Her affordability plan includes a promise to cap profit margins for grocers on essential items, including eggs, milk, vegetables and baby formula.

Freeland announces plan to cap grocery profits, expand competition

'Wouldn't even hurt a fly': Memorial grows for B.C. teen shot dead by police

'Wouldn't even hurt a fly': Memorial grows for B.C. teen shot dead by police
A memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, condolence cards and cans of Orange Crush is growing for a 15-year-old Surrey, B.C., boy who died in a police shooting on Sunday. Friends, family members and strangers, many of them crying, have stopped at the memorial not far from the site where the Surrey high school student was killed. 

'Wouldn't even hurt a fly': Memorial grows for B.C. teen shot dead by police

B.C. snowpack at 72% of normal as of Feb. 1 after 'extremely dry' January

B.C. snowpack at 72% of normal as of Feb. 1 after 'extremely dry' January
British Columbia's latest snow and water supply bulletin says it was "extremely dry" across much of the province last month, with average snowpack measuring 28 per cent below normal as of Feb. 1. The latest snow pack figures released Tuesday come after the province started the year with a snowpack at 13 per cent below normal. 

B.C. snowpack at 72% of normal as of Feb. 1 after 'extremely dry' January

Former prime ministers call on Canadians to 'show the flag' as Trump pushes trade war

Former prime ministers call on Canadians to 'show the flag' as Trump pushes trade war
All of Canada's living former prime minister's are calling on Canadians to express their national pride and "show the flag" as U.S. President Donald Trump continues his threats against this country's economic security and sovereignty. Saturday, Feb. 15 — Flag Day — marks the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag.

Former prime ministers call on Canadians to 'show the flag' as Trump pushes trade war

White House says 25 per cent steel tariffs would stack on others, as premiers in DC

White House says 25 per cent steel tariffs would stack on others, as premiers in DC
The news comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cautioned U.S. Vice-President JD Vance against Trump's promised steel and aluminum levies, while Canadian premiers picked up the Team Canada mantle in Washington to push against Trump's tariff threats.

White House says 25 per cent steel tariffs would stack on others, as premiers in DC