Vancouver airport hijacking suspect Shaheer Cassim makes video court appearance

By Canadian Press on July 22, 2025.

RICHMOND — 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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press