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Canadian man charged with hijacking that caused security scare at Vancouver airport
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A Canadian man has been charged with hijacking a small plane after he caused a security scare at Vancouver's airport this week. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Thursday Shaheer Cassim, 39, has been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident Tuesday that saw the North American Aerospace Defense Command scramble F-15 fighter jets before the plane safely landed. The RCMP said he seized control of a Cessna at Victoria International Airport on Vancouver Island by threatening a flight instructor, before flying about 40 miles (64 kilometers) to Vancouver. 'Investigators have determined the suspect acted with an ideological motive to disrupt airspace,' said Sgt. Tammy Lobb in a statement late Wednesday. A man with the same name and who resembles Cassim posted on social media that he was a 'messenger of Allah' and a 'Messiah' sent to save humanity from climate change. He said 'the Angel Gabriel appeared before me and gave me a message from Allah.' Cassim's last post warns about 'abrupt runaway global warming' that will cause humans to go extinct within a few years. Cassim also said in the post that he is 'Sam Carana,' who runs the 'Arctic News' blog that describes itself as a place where contributors 'all share a deep concern about the way climate change is unfolding in the Arctic and the threat that this poses for the world at large.' His Facebook profile says he was employed from 2008 to 2010 by now-defunct KD Air, a small airline based on Vancouver Island. The airline's former owners, Diana and Lars Banke, said in an interview Wednesday that Cassim was one of the smartest and best pilots they ever worked with, calling him a fast learner who was highly intelligent. But Lars Banke said Cassim left the airline after getting 'bored' and then went to medical school. He also said Cassim believed the world was coming to an end. Diana Banke said she was 'very surprised' to hear of Cassim's charges, saying he was quite young when he worked for them and was 'like a kid.' Lars Banke said he recalled that Cassim was somewhat interested in environmentalism, but he was unaware of any kind of religious beliefs. 'He never spoke religion with us,' Diana Banke said. 'I'm really surprised that he would've done something like this,' she added. In 2012, Cassim held a news conference before going on a cross-country bicycle ride to raise awareness for global warming. British Columbia Premier David Eby said when asked about the incident Thursday that it was a 'bizarre moment,' and the fact that it ended without a more significant disruption at the airport is a 'testament' to the skill of responders who talked the suspect down.
Cedar News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Cedar News
Fighter jets intercept plane near Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey golf club
Published on BEDMINSTER, NJ — An F-16 fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft on Saturday, July 5, 2025, after it violated restricted airspace over former President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the incident, which took place at approximately 2:39 pm local time. The civilian aircraft entered a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone, which had been activated due to Trump's presence in the area. As part of standard security protocols, NORAD swiftly deployed an F-16 fighter jet to intercept the plane. The fighter jet executed a maneuver known as a 'headbutt' — a procedure used to alert the pilot to the restricted airspace and safely escort them out
India Today
06-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
US Air Force intercepts aircraft over Trump's no-fly zone, fifth one in a day
A US Air Force fighter jet was scrambled on Saturday to intercept a civilian aircraft that breached restricted airspace over President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf course, where he and the First Lady were spending the to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the violation occurred around 2:39 pm (Local time). Eastern Daylight Time on July aircraft entered a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone, prompting NORAD to deploy a fighter jet to intercept and safely escort it out of the area. A "headbutt maneuver" was used to draw the pilot's attention. This incident marked the fourth violation of restricted airspace over Bedminster on that day, followed by two more later, bringing the total number of incursions to reiterated the importance of adhering to FAA Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs), particularly TFRs issued when high-profile individuals like President Trump are in the US Air Force also issued a sharp warning to civilian pilots and directed strict adherence with airspace all pilots: If you're flying anywhere near Bedminster, NJ, you'd better check NOTAMs 1353, 1358, 2246 and 2247. These TFRs are in place for a reason. No excuses! Stay sharp, stay legal, and stay out of restricted 1st AF/America's AOC (@1stAF) July 5, 2025The restricted zone around Bedminster is part of NORAD's layered air defense system, which uses radar, satellites and fighter jets to protect US and Canadian airspace, especially when a president is present.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#United States of America#Donald Trump
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
F-16 intercepts plane for airspace incursion over Donald Trump's golf club in New Jersey
An F-16 fighter jet on Saturday intercepted a civilian aircraft for violating a temporary restriction of the airspace over President Donald Trump's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, a statement by the US military said. US President Donald Trump is reportedly spending a holiday weekend in New Jersey.(REUTERS) The fighter jet, sent by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), escorted the general aircraft out of the restricted airspace, the New York Post reported. Trump is reportedly spending a holiday weekend in New Jersey. The incident marked the fifth unauthorised incursion of the temporary flight restriction (TFR) zone on Saturday, NORAD said. The F-16 reportedly performed what is called a 'headbutt' maneuver to draw the attention of the pilot of the civilian aircraft, following which it was escorted out. This is the latest in a string of such incidents in recent weeks, with NORAD urging civilian pilots to check all notifications before taking off. Similar incursion at Trump's Florida home The incident comes months after a similar incident took place in March, wherein a civilian aircraft entered restricted airspace over Trump's Florida residence. The incident had taken place right after Trump finished a round of golf at the West Palm Beach golf course. The F-16s had then deployed flares to get the pilot's attention. A day before this incursion, the jets had conducted an intercept right after Trump had arrived at the West Palm Beach course from his private Mar-a-logo club and residence. However, none of these intercepts have had an impact on Trump's schedule or security, as per officials. The flares deployed by the fighter jets are visible from the ground, but burn out quickly, NORAD said. However, NORAD had flagged the number of incursions which have taken place since Trump's inauguration in January. 'Adherence to TFR procedures is essential to ensure flight safety, national security, and the security of the President," Gen. Gregory Guillot, the commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, had said.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Airspace incursion near Trump's golf course: Plane violates restriction; escorted out by F-16
A NORAD fighter jet intercepted a civilian aircraft which entered the restricted airspace above Bedminster, New Jersey, where US President Donald Trump is spending the 4th July holiday weekend, on Saturday afternoon. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "NORAD intercepted a plane violating a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over Bedminster, NJ on July 5, 2025. Pilots, a reminder to check FAA NOTAMs before you fly! ," the joint United States-Canada military organization wrote on X about the incident. NORAD X post The North American Aerospace Defense Command conducts aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning to defend North America. According its statement, the civilian pilot flew into a TFR zone just before 2:40 pm ET (Sunday 00:10 am IST) and was safely escorted out by the fighter jet. The statement also noted that this was the day's fourth violation of the restricted airspace, and was followed by another one later. Also, while the NORAD statement did not mention the type of aircraft used for the interception, several outlets, including , reported that it was an F-16. In February too, NORAD scrambled three F-16s in response to a of the airspace above Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
