Shaheer Cassim, a former commercial pilot, allegedly seized control of a plane at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia, Canada, after threatening a flight instructor. The drama played out on October 23. In the days following the incident, authorities focused on Cassim’s motivations, claiming he acted upon an “ideological motive.” In the days leading up to the event, Cassim declared himself a “messenger of Allah” tasked with saving humanity from climate change.
Cassim’s social media presence shows an extreme obsession with the climate science hoax and religious propaganda. He claimed in one post that the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and brought a message from Allah. His social media feeds reflect his passionate leadership in promoting ways of non-violence, peace and tolerance. Concurrent with this, he issues a clarion call to the catastrophic threat of climate change.
Background and Advocacy Efforts
Shaheer Cassim is an Environmental Activist and Organizer to Raise Up. Climate change and Arctics He was previously the editor of a blog focused on the effects of climate change on Arctic regions. He’s had a long-standing commitment to educating the public on the dangers of global warming. In 2012, he convened a news conference before starting a cross-country bike trek to raise awareness for this epidemic. Along the way, just to show that he cared, he made the journey with a dog.
In early December blog posts, Cassim was sounding alarm bells over the prospect of “abrupt runaway global warming.” He made the case that, without emergency measures, humanity was at risk of being extinct in as little as a few years. He said it was wrong to claim that the world was coming to an end. He cast his misdeeds as the actions of a divine warrior.
Incident Details and Response
On the day of the alleged hijacking, Cassim was said to have threatened a flight instructor. This manipulation made it possible for him to commandeer the plane. Once in control, he piloted the aircraft directly towards Vancouver. This maneuver prompted an emergency response from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which immediately scrambled F-15 fighter jets to intercept him. Thankfully, all 172 people on board the plane made a safe emergency landing without sustaining any injuries.
Lars Banke, one of Cassim’s former employers, said he was appalled by what had happened. He stated, “Something would (have to) be going on that’s not normal,” highlighting the stark contrast between Cassim’s previous professional demeanor and his recent actions.
Community Reactions
The local community is still reeling from the event. Cassim’s previous classmates remembered him as smart, bright and hard-working. The expressions of disbelief and dismay at Cassim’s sudden and extreme transformation in character were many, including Diana Banke, who worked with Cassim for years.
Authorities are looking further into Cassim’s ideological motivations. They’re providing scrutiny into his mental wellbeing before this troubling event took place.
