A Cessna plane has taken over the airport at Vancouver International Airport. According to the Richmond RCMP (Federal Police), at around 1:10 pm on July 15th, they received a report that a Cessna 172 type light aircraft had been hijacked near Vancouver Island and was entering the airspace near Vancouver International Airport.
Police, the Lower Mainland Joint Emergency Response Team, and the RCMP Aviation Division were immediately deployed to the airport. At 1:45 p.m., the Cessna landed at the airport, and police arrested the only passenger on board. There were no incidents or injuries. An airport spokesperson told reporters that all flights were grounded for about 40 minutes, and nine flights were diverted to other airports.
The man, identified as Shaheer Qasim, 39, has been charged with hijacking, the RCMP said in a statement on the 16th. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22nd.
Qasim is accused of threatening a flight instructor and hijacking a plane at Victoria International Airport. Police have said the motive for the attack was “ideologically motivated” but have not released further details.　After the incident, multiple media outlets reported that the plane belonged to the Victoria Flying Club, but club president Colin Williamson told media outlets that Qasim was not a member of the club.