Saturday, December 13, 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

Fire sparked by RCMP trailer near Lytton, B.C., is being held and will be downgraded

Fire sparked by RCMP trailer near Lytton, B.C., is being held and will be downgraded
The BC Wildfire Service says the change is due to "significant efforts" of firefighters with the help of favourable weather, which means the Izman Creek blaze will no longer be considered a wildfire of note.

Fire sparked by RCMP trailer near Lytton, B.C., is being held and will be downgraded

Surrey’s $27.5M Bear Creek Stadium officially opens

Surrey’s $27.5M Bear Creek Stadium officially opens
The $27.5 Bear Creek Stadium was designed with accessibility and adaptability in mind, featuring extra wide passageways, accessible public washrooms, universal change rooms with accessible showers, and an elevator to bring spectators and sport officials to the upper levels of the grandstand. 

Surrey’s $27.5M Bear Creek Stadium officially opens

Transit Police arrest man with loaded gun at SkyTrain Station

Transit Police arrest man with loaded gun at SkyTrain Station
Just after 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, July 6, 2025, Transit Police officers were checking fares within the Fare Paid Zone at Main Street–Science World SkyTrain Station, when they asked a passenger to produce proof of payment for inspection. As a result, multiple outstanding warrants were discovered, as well as a loaded Glock 23 handgun, ammunition, and what were believed to be controlled substances, in his possession.

Transit Police arrest man with loaded gun at SkyTrain Station

Anand visiting Malaysia, Japan as Carney crafts approach to Indo-Pacific strategy

Anand visiting Malaysia, Japan as Carney crafts approach to Indo-Pacific strategy
Anand will meet with her Japanese counterpart in Tokyo this week as the two finalize an agreement on sharing defence information and boosting trade.

Anand visiting Malaysia, Japan as Carney crafts approach to Indo-Pacific strategy

Scientists map recovery for endangered orcas off British Columbia's coast

Scientists map recovery for endangered orcas off British Columbia's coast
There is an "urgent need for more robust actions" to save the southern resident killer whales from extinction, says the report released by the David Suzuki Foundation and Raincoast Conservation Foundation on Monday.

Scientists map recovery for endangered orcas off British Columbia's coast

Fire that triggered evacuations and shut Kelowna, B.C., airport brought under control

Fire that triggered evacuations and shut Kelowna, B.C., airport brought under control
Police began telling residents to get out on Sunday afternoon and later that night the Regional District of Central Okanagan ordered residents out of homes at seven addresses at risk from the Whelan Creek wildfire.

Fire that triggered evacuations and shut Kelowna, B.C., airport brought under control