National

Vancouver airport hijacking suspect Shaheer Cassim makes video court appearance

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Jul, 2025 12:01 PM

The man accused of hijacking a plane on Vancouver Island and flying it back and forth above Vancouver International Airport last week made a brief court appearance by video in Richmond, B.C.

Shaheer Cassim appeared on Tuesday via video link, dressed in an orange prison outfit and speaking only his name when asked by the judge.

An agent for Cassim's defence lawyer Kevin Westell told the court that more time was needed and scheduled his next appearance for July 29.

Cassim will remain in custody in the meantime at a pretrial centre in Surrey.

He faces charges of hijacking and interference with the operation of an airport that could endanger the safety of an aircraft in flight.

The 39-year-old former commercial pilot was arrested July 15 after allegedly taking a plane from the Victoria International Airport before flying it to Vancouver's airport where the aircraft was met by police upon landing.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Premiers meet with Indigenous groups on first day of three-day Ontario gathering

The premiers have gathered at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., to talk trade and tariffs, particularly when they meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Premiers meet with Indigenous groups on first day of three-day Ontario gathering

U.S. senators in Ottawa urge Carney to quickly repeal digital services tax

Carney said in late June he would eliminate the tax — just before a hefty retroactive payment was due that would have cost big U.S. tech companies an estimated $2 billion.

U.S. senators in Ottawa urge Carney to quickly repeal digital services tax

PM to meet with U.S. senators in Ottawa to talk trade

A media advisory from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance says four senators plan to "reaffirm the importance of ties between the United States and Canada" in meetings with Carney and other top government officials.

PM to meet with U.S. senators in Ottawa to talk trade

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

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.