Vancouver, BC – In a dramatic incident that unfolded over the skies of British Columbia this week, a former commercial airline pilot has been charged with hijacking and terrorism offenses after seizing an aircraft and flying it erratically near Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The accused, Shaheer Cassim, reportedly referred to himself as a “messenger of Allah” and “the messiah sent to save humanity from climate change” during the incident.
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a Cessna 172 aircraft was hijacked in Victoria, prompting a swift and coordinated response from both Canadian and U.S. Air Forces. The small plane reportedly flew in circles around Vancouver International Airport for nearly half an hour, causing a 39-minute “ground stop” for arriving flights at YVR.
Authorities have identified the individual believed to be the pilot as Shaheer Cassim. Prior to this week’s events, Cassim was known for his involvement in climate activism.
It has since emerged that shortly after his 2012 climate activism, Cassim made a notable claim on Facebook, stating, “I am a messenger from Allah” and warning that “humans will go extinct within a few years.” His post further asserted, “I am the messiah sent to save humanity from climate change and usher in a new era of world peace.” These statements underscore a significant religious dimension to his alleged actions, intertwining deeply held beliefs with his environmental concerns.
Police in Richmond received a report around 1 p.m. that the small plane “had been hijacked” and was en route to Vancouver. Around the same time, Vancouver air-traffic control alerted nearby aircraft to a “rogue aircraft,” advising them to watch for the Cessna and be prepared to “manoeuvre as necessary.”
Flight radar data indicated that the Cessna flew directly to Vancouver’s airport from Victoria before circling the area for approximately 25 minutes. While the RCMP has not yet disclosed any official motive for the incident, a Vancouver air traffic controller was recorded suggesting the alleged hijacking appeared to be “some type of protest.”
The seriousness of the situation was underscored by the scramble of military jets. U.S. fighter jets from Washington State’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord, part of the North American Aerospace Defence Command’s western air defence sector, were scrambled and en route to the Canadian airport. These jets are home to personnel from the Washington Air National Guard, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the United States Navy. Concurrently, Canadian CF-18 Hornets were dispatched from Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake in northern Alberta to respond to the incident. Some CF-18s are also based at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville in Saguenay, Quebec.
The aircraft ultimately landed at YVR around 1:45 p.m. Social media videos and photographs captured the scene, showing a swarm of police vehicles converging on the plane as it came to a stop, and the pilot, believed to be Cassim, exiting the aircraft.
The charges of hijacking and terrorism against Shaheer Cassim highlight the grave nature of the incident and the potential implications of individuals acting on extreme islamic beliefs.
