Monday, December 22, 2025
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

Alberta woman allegedly released from jail with fake documents arrested in B.C.

Alberta woman allegedly released from jail with fake documents arrested in B.C.
An Alberta woman who Crown prosecutors say was wrongfully released from an Edmonton area jail with allegedly fake release papers has been arrested in B.C.

Alberta woman allegedly released from jail with fake documents arrested in B.C.

Sikh groups say Ottawa should not invite India's Modi to G7 summit

Sikh groups say Ottawa should not invite India's Modi to G7 summit
Sikh organizations are calling on Ottawa to break with a five-year tradition by not inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit.

Sikh groups say Ottawa should not invite India's Modi to G7 summit

Jobs minister meets with Canada Post union reps as overtime ban persists

Jobs minister meets with Canada Post union reps as overtime ban persists
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is meeting with postal union officials in Ottawa today amid an overtime ban and declining mail volumes at a beleaguered Canada Post.

Jobs minister meets with Canada Post union reps as overtime ban persists

Dive-bombed or not, Vancouverites are still pro-crow, researchers say

Dive-bombed or not, Vancouverites are still pro-crow, researchers say
Along her journey towards understanding Vancouver's crows, psychology professor Suzanne MacDonald says she made a friend.

Dive-bombed or not, Vancouverites are still pro-crow, researchers say

Crown cross-examines one of five hockey players accused of sexual assault

Crown cross-examines one of five hockey players accused of sexual assault
One of five hockey players accused of sexual assault says he went to a London, Ont., hotel room hoping for and expecting a sexual encounter with an unknown woman but didn’t know anything about what the woman wanted when he got there.

Crown cross-examines one of five hockey players accused of sexual assault

Quebec tables bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers on sale of goods

Quebec tables bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers on sale of goods
Quebec is moving to lower interprovincial trade barriers, with some exceptions. 

Quebec tables bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers on sale of goods