Wednesday, December 10, 2025
ADVT 
National

Vancouver airport hijack suspect in brief B.C. court appearance, lawyer to seek bail

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Jul, 2025 11:43 AM
  • Vancouver airport hijack suspect in brief B.C. court appearance, lawyer to seek bail

The man accused of allegedly hijacking a plane that triggered a security incident at Vancouver International Airport appeared briefly in a provincial court in Richmond, B.C., where his lawyer says they're working on a plan to have him released on bail. 

Shaheer Cassim was dressed in an orange prison outfit and acknowledged he could see and hear the judge, who scheduled another appearance for Cassim in two weeks.

An agent for Cassim's defence lawyer Kevin Westell says they'll take the time to work on a bail plan for the 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 hearing Tuesday lasted minutes before the case was put over until Aug. 12, and the Crown prosecutor gave no indication whether bail for Cassim would be supported or opposed. 

Cassim, who is 39 years old, has been in custody at a 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

Unionized workers at Canada Post to start voting on contract offer

Unionized workers at Canada Post to start voting on contract offer
Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks.

Unionized workers at Canada Post to start voting on contract offer

Advocates work to put health care on the radar as premiers meet in Ontario

Advocates work to put health care on the radar as premiers meet in Ontario
The post-pandemic crisis in health care has taken centre stage at the Council of the Federation in recent years as premiers have pushed Ottawa for more funding.

Advocates work to put health care on the radar as premiers meet in Ontario

Heat warning up for B.C.'s north coast, persisting until Tuesday

Heat warning up for B.C.'s north coast, persisting until Tuesday
It says daytime temperatures are expected to be near 30 degrees Celsius with overnight lows in the mid-teens.

Heat warning up for B.C.'s north coast, persisting until Tuesday

Canada joins 24 nations calling on Israel to end war in Gaza, aid restrictions

Canada joins 24 nations calling on Israel to end war in Gaza, aid restrictions
The signatories — who include the foreign ministers of France, Japan and the U.K., and the European Union commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management — called Israel's aid distribution system "dangerous."

Canada joins 24 nations calling on Israel to end war in Gaza, aid restrictions

'Grossly exceeded': Fentanyl in air at Vancouver supportive housing offices

'Grossly exceeded': Fentanyl in air at Vancouver supportive housing offices
That is the among the findings of tests conducted at 14 British Columbia supportive housing facilities, results that contributed to the province's decision to form a working group aimed at tackling safety issues — including second-hand fentanyl exposure.

'Grossly exceeded': Fentanyl in air at Vancouver supportive housing offices

Crime Stoppers takes 'unusual step' of accepting tips from extortion victims

Crime Stoppers takes 'unusual step' of accepting tips from extortion victims
Executive director Linda Annis said Tuesday that they've received more than 70 extortion-related tips in the past 18 months or so, and have forwarded them all to police.

Crime Stoppers takes 'unusual step' of accepting tips from extortion victims