Ex-pilot called himself messiah on climate-change mission, day before alleged hijack

The day before the suspected hijacking of a light aircraft triggered a security scare at Vancouver’s airport this week, former commercial pilot Shaheer Cassim posted on social media that he was a “messenger of Allah” sent to save humanity from climate change.

A 39-year-old man with the same name has now been charged with hijacking, constituting terrorism, over the incident on Tuesday that saw Norad scramble F-15 fighter jets before the light plane safely landed.

RCMP say the suspect had an “ideological motive” and allegedly seized control of the plane at Victoria International Airport after threatening a flight instructor, before flying to Vancouver.

Images posted on social media depicting the arrest of the Cessna’s pilot on the north runway of YVR show a bearded man who resembles climate activist Cassim.

In his Facebook post on Monday, Cassim says he’s the “messiah sent to save humanity from climate change and usher in an era of world peace.”

Read more: Coast Reporter