Porter Airlines cancelled a Toronto-bound flight from Victoria International Airport on Thursday after a young child refused to sit down and buckle their seatbelt. The delay forced the aircraft to return to the terminal, pushing the departure past the airport’s midnight runway closure and leaving passengers stranded until Friday.
The incident began after flight PD444 had already closed its doors and departed the terminal at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia. As the aircraft headed for the runway, cabin crew members realized a child was standing in their seat, according to Porter Airlines.
Both the child’s parent and the crew attempted to secure the seatbelt, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Because the airline determined the plane could not take off in that condition, the crew returned to the terminal to remove the child, the parent, and their luggage.
Victoria International Airport Runway Closure
The decision to return to the gate triggered a chain of operational delays. According to the airline, the process of removing the passengers and their bags, refiling flight plans, and completing necessary paperwork extended past 12:30 a.m.
This timing was critical because the airport’s runway closes at 12:30 a.m., making a late-night departure impossible. Consequently, the flight was cancelled, and the remaining passengers were forced to spend the night in Victoria.
“The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.”
Porter Airlines spokesperson, via CTV News
Porter Airlines Passenger Rebooking
Passengers who were displaced by the cancellation were rebooked on a flight for the following day. The airline issued an apology for the disruption caused by the safety-related delay.
The airline’s statement specifically highlighted the nature of the disruption, noting that a young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt
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