Latest news with #VancouverSun
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Pilot with 'ideological motive' steals small aircraft and disrupts major international airport operations
A stolen plane triggered a major security incident at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Tuesday afternoon, temporarily halting operations and forcing multiple flights to reroute. Just before 1:30 p.m. local time on July 15, a "security incident" involving a small private plane led to a temporary halt in airport operations, according to a statement from YVR. The plane, flying within YVR's airspace, forced nine incoming flights to reroute to different airports. At approximately 1:45 p.m., following a 39-minute air traffic suspension, the Cessna 172, operated by a single individual, safely landed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) then apprehended the pilot. In an air traffic control recording obtained by the Vancouver Sun via a controller alerted other pilots: "We do have an aircraft that has been hijacked and is in the vicinity of the airport ... just in case anything starts heading toward [you], you have the ability to move at your discretion." Passenger In Custody After 'Direct Threat' To Airplane Shuts Down Seattle Airport Runways "They are currently flying overhead," a voice from air traffic control can be heard saying. "At this time, I have no further updates. We have the aircraft in visual range—please stand by for further instructions." Read On The Fox News App Later, air traffic controllers instructed grounded aircraft to remain on standby during the ongoing situation:"We're not certain what will happen next. The aircraft continues to circle above, and its intentions remain unknown. For now, we are holding position." RCMP later confirmed that the aircraft had been taken from Victoria International Airport and had flown around 40 miles into Vancouver's airspace. Manhunt After Inmate Escapes At Seattle Airport, Boards Train A spokesperson for Vancouver Airport Authority said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the issue involving a plane from the Victoria Flying Club had been resolved without injury. "Safety and security are our top priorities, and we continually review our processes and procedures in service of our operation, our passengers, and our airline customers," the statement read. "Following any significant situation or emergency operations activation and as part of our standard procedures, we debrief on what took place and make recommendations for changes or improvements where necessary." One eyewitness, speaking to CBC, described seeing the low-flying aircraft and suspected something was wrong. "A few minutes later, the plane made a second pass, circling in a wide clockwise turn," eyewitness Paul Heeny told CBC. Us Man Hijacks Small Plane In Belize, Stabs 3 People Before He's Shot Dead On July 16, RCMP revealed the identity of the pilot as 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, who now faces a hijacking charge. Authorities allege he threatened a flight instructor at YYJ before taking control of the aircraft. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Tammy Lobb said in a press release that the suspect appeared to have an "ideological motive" aimed at disrupting air traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Police noted that the investigation is still in its early stages and remains active. British Columbia's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg, praised the swift actions of first responders. "Grateful for the professionalism shown by police, air traffic control, and airport staff during today's incident," he posted on X. "Relieved there were no injuries and that normal operations have resumed." The airport says flights have resumed at YVR, though minor delays may persist. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates. Fox News Digital reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but did not immediately receive a article source: Pilot with 'ideological motive' steals small aircraft and disrupts major international airport operations Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
5 days ago
- Fox News
Pilot with 'ideological motive' steals small aircraft and disrupts major international airport operations
A stolen plane triggered a major security incident at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Tuesday afternoon, temporarily halting operations and forcing multiple flights to reroute. Just before 1:30 p.m. local time on July 15, a "security incident" involving a small private plane led to a temporary halt in airport operations, according to a statement from YVR. The plane, flying within YVR's airspace, forced nine incoming flights to reroute to different airports. At approximately 1:45 p.m., following a 39-minute air traffic suspension, the Cessna 172, operated by a single individual, safely landed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) then apprehended the pilot. In an air traffic control recording obtained by the Vancouver Sun via a controller alerted other pilots: "We do have an aircraft that has been hijacked and is in the vicinity of the airport ... just in case anything starts heading toward [you], you have the ability to move at your discretion." "They are currently flying overhead," a voice from air traffic control can be heard saying. "At this time, I have no further updates. We have the aircraft in visual range—please stand by for further instructions." Later, air traffic controllers instructed grounded aircraft to remain on standby during the ongoing situation:"We're not certain what will happen next. The aircraft continues to circle above, and its intentions remain unknown. For now, we are holding position." RCMP later confirmed that the aircraft had been taken from Victoria International Airport and had flown around 40 miles into Vancouver's airspace. A spokesperson for Vancouver Airport Authority said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the issue involving a plane from the Victoria Flying Club had been resolved without injury. "Safety and security are our top priorities, and we continually review our processes and procedures in service of our operation, our passengers, and our airline customers," the statement read. "Following any significant situation or emergency operations activation and as part of our standard procedures, we debrief on what took place and make recommendations for changes or improvements where necessary." One eyewitness, speaking to CBC, described seeing the low-flying aircraft and suspected something was wrong. "A few minutes later, the plane made a second pass, circling in a wide clockwise turn," eyewitness Paul Heeny told CBC. On July 16, RCMP revealed the identity of the pilot as 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, who now faces a hijacking charge. Authorities allege he threatened a flight instructor at YYJ before taking control of the aircraft. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Tammy Lobb said in a press release that the suspect appeared to have an "ideological motive" aimed at disrupting air traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Police noted that the investigation is still in its early stages and remains active. British Columbia's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg, praised the swift actions of first responders. "Grateful for the professionalism shown by police, air traffic control, and airport staff during today's incident," he posted on X. "Relieved there were no injuries and that normal operations have resumed." The airport says flights have resumed at YVR, though minor delays may persist. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates. Fox News Digital reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but did not immediately receive a response. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Hamilton Spectator
16-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Former Fort St. John mayor receives ‘tremendous honour'
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A former mayor has been presented with a prestigious honour by Fort St. John city council this week. Steve Thorlakson, who served the city as a councillor and mayor for over two decades, received the Freedom of the City by council on Tuesday, July 15th. The honour recognizes significant contributions the recipient has made to the community, according to a City of Fort St. John website. But after a career in banking, oil and gas and politics, what's remarkable about Thorlakson's story is he almost wasn't here to receive the honour at all. In 1969, he left Surrey, B.C. to travel up to Peace River, Alberta for a job which he described as 'quite a long drive.' While on the way, he picked up a hitchhiker named John Melville Ritcey. However, Ritcey was on the run from police in connection with a murder in the Vancouver area in what was described at the time as 'the most bizarre, unbelievable cases' by the Vancouver Sun. It turns out Ritcey had murdered Kenneth Black, and had kept the body in a trunk in his apartment for nearly two months before Ritcey transported the body to woods near Hope with the help of another man. Thorlakson later told police of his ordeal, including being held for two days with a gun at his throat. The entire episode ended with a roadblock near McLeod Lake north of Prince George. The story took another bizarre turn at trial, when Leonard McGuire testified he'd been held prisoner in fear of his life for two months in the apartment where Black, his friend, was strangled and mutilated after spurning Ritcey's sexual advances. Ritcey was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. 'First of all [it is] probably one of the reasons why I believe [in] God,' Thorlakson told . 'There was no other reason for me to survive. 'I was being held at gunpoint by this guy who had already murdered one person. Thankfully, I was spared and had the opportunity to carry on.' He came to Fort St. John in 1979 after being transferred to the Toronto-Dominion Bank branch in the town while living in Williams Lake. 'I wondered what I had done wrong,' joked Thorlakson. 'I was flown up to have a look and talk about the possibilities of finding a house. And there were only six houses in town available in my price range.' After being involved with the Fort St. John and district chamber of commerce, he was inspired by the foundation laid out by his parents that 'you should give back' to the communities you live in. He ran for city council in 1986, alongside his good friend Peter Vandergugten. The two had served as vice-president and president of the city's Chamber of Commerce. '[When we took over] the chamber was in a lot of trouble,' said Thorlakson. 'It had $60,000 in debt [and] declining membership. We were able to turn things around to get the chamber debt paid off [and] increase the membership from about 140 [members] up to over 400.' Elected as an alderman, Thorlakson said the job 'didn't pay a heck of a lot' and described it as a 'part-time hobby you took seriously.' Four years later, he ran for mayor, winning the 1990 election. Thorlakson was re-elected in that capacity for an additional three terms until 2006. He also served as the president of the Union of BC Municipalities in 1999 and 2000. During his tenure, he won Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, which was presented by former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell. Friends and family from around the country will be on hand at Fort St. John's City Hall. 'It's a tremendous honour,' said Thorlakson. 'It's a rarity. It's an honour that I have to share with a lot of people [including] councils that I worked with [and] the brilliant and gifted city manager who laid out the strategies and did the research on the plans that we as a council were able to develop to make some positive things happen.' The ceremony took place at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Shots fired at Kap's Cafe in Canada while staff were inside
Toronto: As Canadian police investigate the firing at a restaurant owned by comedian Kapil Sharma in Surrey, British Columbia, they have said staff were on the premises when the attack occurred though there were no injuries. Kap's Cafe in Surrey, British Columbia, which was fired at by unknown persons in the early hours of Thursday. (Sameer Kaushal/NewsDerby) Multiple shots were fired at the restaurant, Kap's Cafe, which recently opened in a popular area on the border of the towns of Surrey and Delta. Owned by comedian and TV host Kapil Sharma, the cafe was targeted in the early hours of Thursday and Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers reported to the scene at 1:50 am after there were reports of shots fired there. Delta Police Department officers also responded. In a statement issued, on Thursday, SPS said that 'while staff members were still present inside' there were 'no injuries to anyone at the business.' Officers gathered evidence and canvassed the area for witnesses and surveillance video. SPS' Frontline Investigative Support or FLIS Team has assumed conduct of the investigation. 'This investigation is continuing and connections to other incidents and potential motives are being examined. There is currently no suspect information available to share,' the release stated. The outlet Vancouver Sun cited SPS spokesperson Staff Sgt Lindsey Houghton as saying that police are aware of reports on Indian media that a Khalistani separatist had claimed responsibility for the shooting. That came in the form of an unverified social media post where Harjit Singh Laddi and Toofan Singh, who are associated with the proscribed terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack. In the posts, they claimed an episode of the popular Kapil Sharma Show featured a character who made some humorous remarks about the dress and behaviour of Nihangs, which hurt their religious sentiments. Neither the veracity of the posts nor the claim could be established at this time. BKI is recognized as a terrorist outfit by the Canadian Government. Vancouver Sun also quoted a statement from British Columbia's Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Garry Begg in which he said, 'The incident that took place in the early hours in Surrey this morning is frightening and I'm thankful there were no injuries to anyone at this business.'
Canada Standard
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Canada Standard
"Let's stand firm against violence": Kapil Sharma's Kap's Cafe breaks silence on firing incident
Surrey [Canada], July 11 (ANI): Comedian and actor Kapil Sharma's 'Kap's Cafe' in Canada has shared their response against the firing incident which took place at the cafe on Thursday. Taking to their Instagram handle, the staff of 'Kap's Cafe' described the incident as 'heartbreaking' and stated that they were 'shocked' by the unexpected firing at the restaurant premises. The cafe also thanked the entire community for all the messages they had received and extended gratitude to the Surrey, British Columbia, police department for all their help in the matter. Kap's Cafe shared a long, heartfelt note after the incident. Titled 'A Message From Heart', the cafe wrote, 'We opened Kap's Cafe with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock, but we are not giving up.' The cafe said that they will stand 'firm' against the violence to keep the place a symbol of 'warmth and community' for its visitors. 'Thank you for Your Support. Your kind words, prayers, and memories shared via DM mean more than you know. This cafe exists because of your belief in what we're building together. Let's stand firm against violence and ensure Kap's Cafe remains a place of warmth and community,' wrote Kap's Cafe. The shots were fired at a restaurant owned by Indian comedian Kapil Sharma, Kap's Cafe, in Canada's Surrey on Thursday, the Canada-based newspaper Vancouver Sun reported. Several gun shots rang outside Kap's Cafe in Surrey at 1:50 (local time) am on Thursday, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said some staff members were present inside the restaurant at the time of shooting. No one was injured in the incident. The cafe had opened early this week. At least 10 bullet holes could be seen in a window at Kap's Cafe on Thursday morning, while another window pane was shattered. Spokesperson Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said police is aware about reports in Indian media claiming that a Khalistani separatist has claimed responsibility for the shooting. In a statement, the SPS said that the investigation is still in the very early stages and 'and connections to other incident and potential motives are being examined.' Police do not have a suspect description yet, and the motive behind the shooting has not been determined, the Vancouver Sun reported. (ANI)
