Former Pilot Charged After Hijacking Shocks Vancouver Airport
This week, a startling and unusual event unfolded in Canadian airspace, leading to a major security scare at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). A former commercial pilot, 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, has been formally charged with hijacking, following an incident involving a stolen light aircraft that originated from Victoria. Authorities believe Cassim's motive was ideological, and the case now includes elements of terrorism under Canadian law.
According to law enforcement, Cassim allegedly commandeered a Cessna 172 aircraft from the Victoria Flying Club on Tuesday afternoon. After takeoff, he flew across the Salish Sea, heading straight toward Vancouver’s bustling international airport. What followed was a tense 39-minute disruption to airport operations as the unauthorized aircraft hovered at low altitude above YVR’s airspace.
NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, scrambled fighter jets in response, although the suspect landed before interception was necessary. The incident triggered confusion and delay among commercial pilots, one of whom was heard in radio recordings questioning why their plane remained grounded. An air traffic controller explained that a small plane was flying in an apparent protest and that the issue might last a while—though thankfully, the Cessna landed safely shortly thereafter.
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Video footage from the airport shows a coordinated police response, with multiple vehicles surrounding the taxiing plane and officers arresting the bearded pilot as he walked backward toward them with arms raised. Cassim reportedly expected to be arrested and made no attempt to flee after landing.
Court records show that Cassim, who has a past in climate activism, is now undergoing assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial. In 2012, he gained attention by embarking on a cross-country bicycle journey to promote awareness about climate change. Former colleagues from his days as a pilot have described him as highly intelligent—perhaps too much for his own good—and noted his belief that the world was facing imminent collapse.
The hijacking charge under the Criminal Code of Canada is a grave one and carries the potential for a life sentence, especially when tied to terrorism-related motives. Prosecutors confirmed that his actions met the criteria for both hijacking and terrorist activity, an exceedingly rare classification in Canadian domestic aviation.
At this point, many questions remain unanswered—most importantly, why a trained pilot would take such an extreme and dangerous step. Was it truly a form of protest? Or something deeper rooted in personal or ideological turmoil?
For now, Shaheer Cassim remains in custody, awaiting his next court appearance. The incident has reignited conversations about aviation security, mental health among professionals, and the evolving forms of protest that increasingly blur the lines between civil disobedience and criminality.
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