Small aircraft hijacker allegedly shut down a major airport for ideologically driven motives, according to law enforcement.
**Headline:** Canadian Man Charged with Hijacking Small Plane at Victoria International Airport
A 39-year-old man named Shaheer Cassim has been charged with hijacking a small plane at Victoria International Airport, located about 40 miles south of Vancouver. The incident, which occurred on an unspecified date, resulted in a ground stop at Vancouver International Airport for approximately 39 minutes, causing nine planes to be diverted.
According to reports, Cassim allegedly threatened a flight instructor at Victoria International Airport to take control of a Cessna 172 aircraft. He then flew the plane north to Vancouver International Airport, causing security concerns and disruptions to air traffic.
Cassim's actions led to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambling fighter jets in response, and controllers warned aircraft to watch out for his plane. The Cessna safely landed before the fighter jets arrived, and Cassim was arrested.
Under Canadian law, hijacking is defined as using force or threats of force to cause an aircraft to divert from its planned flight path. The specific penalties for hijacking in Canada are not detailed in the recent reports, but such offenses are generally considered serious crimes with significant legal consequences.
Cassim appeared in court on Wednesday and was ordered to remain in jail until his next court appearance on July 22. The case is ongoing, and more details regarding the charges and potential penalties may emerge as the legal proceedings continue.
Investigators have suggested that Cassim may have ideological motives for his actions, although the specific nature of these motives has not been fully disclosed. A social media account linked to Cassim, a pilot in the area, posted about climate change and global warming, claiming that the Arctic sea ice would disappear within two years, causing methane eruptions and global warming.
The Victoria Flying Club, which operates about 12,000 flights a year, owns the hijacked plane. As of the report, Cassim does not have a lawyer listed.
CNN's Paula Newton Contributed to this report.
World media outlets are reporting on the incident involving a 39-year-old man, Shaheer Cassim, who allegedly hijacked a small plane at Victoria International Airport. His actions, which led to a ground stop at Vancouver International Airport and caused nine planes to be diverted, have also resulted in general news headlines that include crime-and-justice topics. The specific legal penalties for hijacking in Canada remain undetailed, but the incident highlights the potential impacts of such acts on global air traffic and politics. The investigation into Cassim's case continues, with speculations suggesting possible ideological motives linked to climate change and global warming.
