Former pilot pleads guilty to terrorism offences in B.C. plane hijacking that triggered NORAD response

A former commercial pilot has pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences after hijacking a small plane on Vancouver Island last summer, triggering a major security response that included fighter jets being scrambled.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada confirmed that Shaheer Cassim entered guilty pleas in a Richmond courtroom to charges of hijacking an aircraft and interfering with operations at Vancouver International Airport.

Prosecutors say the offences meet the legal definition of terrorist activity under Canada’s Criminal Code.

Incident triggered national security response

The hijacking unfolded in July when Cassim took a small Cessna aircraft from the Victoria Flying Club in Sidney, B.C.

He later flew the plane into the controlled airspace around Vancouver International Airport, prompting a significant emergency response.

The incident disrupted airport operations and led to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, scrambling fighter jets as a precaution.

Cassim was arrested on the runway after landing the aircraft, with images circulating online showing the moments following his apprehension.

Ideological motive cited by police

Authorities previously said the hijacking appeared to be ideologically motivated.

Social media posts made by Cassim the day before the incident included claims that he was a “messenger of Allah” sent to save humanity from climate change.

Police at the time described the act as driven by extremist beliefs, though no broader threat to the public was identified.

Background as a pilot

Cassim had previously worked for Vancouver Island-based airline KD Air.

Former owners described him as intelligent and skilled, but said he held increasingly concerning views about the state of the world.

Next steps in court

Cassim is scheduled to return to court at the end of May to set a date for sentencing.

The case marks a rare example in Canada of an aviation-related offence being prosecuted as terrorism, highlighting how ideological motivations can elevate criminal charges to the most serious level under federal law.