Porter Airlines cancelled flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, to Toronto on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after a toddler passenger refused to sit and buckle their seatbelt before takeoff.
The incident occurred after the aircraft had closed its doors and left the terminal at Victoria International Airport. Cabin crew observed the child standing in their seat rather than secured by the seatbelt. Both the toddler’s parent and flight attendants attempted multiple times to have the child buckle up but were unsuccessful.
Timeline and Operational Impact
Due to the unresolved safety issue, the crew aborted takeoff and returned the plane to the gate.
The toddler’s family and their luggage were removed from the aircraft. Additional required steps, including refiling the flight plan and recalculating the aircraft’s weight and balance for the reduced passenger load, extended the delay.
Victoria International Airport’s runway closes at 12:30 a.m. local time. The extended delay pushed the departure time beyond this curfew, making takeoff impossible.
Rescheduled Flight Details
Porter Airlines cancelled the original flight and rescheduled it for the following day. The replacement flight departed Victoria at 10:49 a.m. local time on Friday, August 7, and landed in Toronto at 6:16 a.m. Eastern Time, according to flight tracking data.
Airline Statement and Apology
Porter Airlines
issued a statement confirming the cause of cancellation. “A young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt,” the airline said. “The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.”
The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused and expressed regret about the disruption’s impact on passengers.
Passenger Impact and Wider Context
All passengers on flight PD444 were required to leave the aircraft and remain in Victoria overnight, delaying their travel plans. The toddler’s family was also affected by the cancellation.
This incident is among several recent
cases where young children’s refusal to comply with safety regulations has led to flight delays or cancellations. Discussions about adult-only flights and other measures continue to surface in public forums, although no widespread airline policy changes have followed.
