Porter Airlines canceled a Toronto-bound flight at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia on August 6, 2026, after a young child passenger refused to sit down and fasten their seatbelt. The refusal forced the aircraft to return to the terminal before takeoff.
Flight Delay Past Runway Closure
The incident delayed the flight past the airport’s 12:30 a.m. runway closure time. The airline’s decision to return the plane to the terminal and remove the noncompliant child caused the disruption at Victoria International Airport on the night of Thursday, August 6.
Removal and Rebooking of Passengers
Both the parent and child, along with their baggage, were removed from the flight after repeated
unsuccessful attempts by the parent and crew to secure the child in the seat and fasten the seatbelt. As the delayed flight missed the scheduled runway closure, all passengers had to disembark. Porter Airlines rebooked those affected on a flight departing the following day.
Porter Airlines, headquartered in Toronto, issued an apology to impacted passengers on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The airline reiterated its adherence to safety rules requiring passengers to be seated with seatbelts fastened before departure. This safety disruption led directly to the cancellation and subsequent passenger inconvenience, highlighting operational challenges when safety protocols cannot be followed.
