Former Pilot Charged with Hijacking and Terrorism Linked to Climate Change Ideology

The day before an alarming aircraft hijacking incident at Vancouver International Airport, a former commercial pilot named Shaheer Cassim posted on social media expressing that he was a "messenger of Allah" designated to save humanity from climate change. The 39-year-old has since been charged with hijacking and terrorism, following an incident where he threatened a flight instructor to take control of a Cessna and flew to Vancouver, resulting in Norad deploying F-15 fighter jets.

A doctor in British Columbia, who shares the same surname as Cassim, confidentially noted that the suspect had longstanding mental health challenges and felt let down by the mental health system. The RCMP highlighted that the hijacking was ideologically motivated to create disruption in the airspace, and images from the arrest depicted a man who bears a resemblance to Cassim.

On social media, Cassim had previously claimed a divine purpose, stating, "I am a messenger of Allah. I am the Messiah sent to save humanity from climate change," and raised alarms about "abrupt runaway global warming." Additionally, he identified himself as "Sam Carana," linked to the "Arctic News" blog focused on the threats posed by climate change.

The blog features numerous contributors, including some notable academics, and discusses alarming climate projections. Peter D. Carter, an environmental advocate, expressed disbelief that anyone would hijack a plane in the name of climate awareness, though he stressed the necessity of driving public attention to the climate crisis.

Cassim had a brief career as a pilot and was noted for his intelligence and abilities by former colleagues at a small airline, KD Air. They described him as someone who had an interest in environmental issues but weren’t aware of any religious convictions. Cassim's previous endeavors included bike rides to raise awareness about global warming, and he had made various online declarations regarding religion and tolerance, indicating a complex persona that mystified those who knew him.

Despite his charges, many remained shocked as they recalled Cassim’s earlier kindness and concern for the environment. B.C. Premier David Eby remarked on the bizarre nature of the incident, commending the effective response that managed to defuse a potentially more dangerous situation.