Porter Airlines canceled Flight PD444 on August 6, 2026, at Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, after a young child passenger refused to sit down and fasten their seatbelt. The flight was scheduled from Victoria to Toronto but was disrupted due to non-compliance with safety regulations.
Flight Disruption and Delay Details
The aircraft had left the terminal and was preparing for departure when the child stood on the seat and repeatedly refused to buckle in despite efforts by both the parent and cabin crew. The flight crew returned the plane to the gate to remove the parent, child, and their luggage. This removal process took extended
time, delaying the flight past Victoria International Airport’s runway closure at 12:30 a.m.
Passenger Impact and Rebooking
The remaining passengers were asked to disembark due to the delay extending beyond the airport’s late-night operations. They were required to wait overnight at Victoria before being rebooked on a flight departing the next day, Friday afternoon. Passenger Aryeh Kozuch described the child’s attempts to avoid buckling in, saying, “They just kept hiding under their seat. If they got forced into being strapped in, they just kind of slid out underneath.” Another passenger, Hillary Hertzberg, said, “The kid eventually got off the plane at 11:30pm, so we
had been on the flight for almost an hour at that point.” Hertzberg also expressed frustration with the length of the delay.
Airline Statement and Regulatory Context
Brad Cicero, a spokesman for Porter Airlines, stated the decision to return to the terminal was made because “the aircraft could not take off safely.” Cicero added, “We apologise for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day.” Canadian aviation regulations mandate that every passenger, including young children, must be seated with seatbelts fastened during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. There are no exemptions for children to remain unsecured,
and they must be held or restrained properly during these phases of flight.
