Passengers on a Canadian domestic flight were left stranded overnight after an unusual safety issue forced an aircraft to return to the gate moments before departure. The service, operated by Porter Airlines, was preparing to leave Victoria International Airport in British Columbia for Toronto when cabin crew were unable to secure a young passenger in their seat.
According to the airline, crew members and the child’s parent made repeated attempts to ensure the youngster remained seated with their seatbelt fastened, a requirement for take-off. However, those efforts were unsuccessful, prompting the aircraft to abandon its taxi toward the runway and head back to the terminal.
The parent and child were removed from the flight along with their luggage, while remaining passengers were also required to disembark as operational paperwork and flight planning processes were updated. The resulting delay proved costly, pushing the scheduled departure beyond the airport’s overnight runway closure.
With no opportunity to depart that night, the Toronto-bound service was ultimately cancelled. Porter Airlines apologised to affected travellers and said passengers were rebooked onto another flight the following day.
Travellers who spoke to Canadian media described a tense atmosphere as delays mounted. Some passengers suggested the child appeared frightened rather than disruptive, while others expressed frustration about communication during the lengthy wait and the challenges of finding overnight accommodation after the cancellation.
The airline said the situation created unsafe conditions for take-off, highlighting the strict safety requirements airlines must follow before an aircraft can leave the ground. Details about the child’s age were not disclosed.
