Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444, departing from Victoria International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport, on August 6, 2026, after a toddler passenger refused to remain seated and buckle their seatbelt.
Flight PD444 had already left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway when flight attendants observed the toddler standing on their seat. Repeated attempts by cabin crew and the child’s parent to have the child properly restrained failed. The pilot then decided to return the aircraft to the gate due to safety concerns. The disembarkation of the child and parent took considerable time, extending past 11:30 p.m., after
passengers had been seated on the plane for nearly an hour.
Victoria International Airport enforces an overnight operating curfew that restricts flights beyond 12:30 a.m. Because of the delay caused by the unsettled child, the flight surpassed this curfew and could not depart that evening, resulting in a cancellation. Passengers were left stranded overnight in Victoria and had to arrange their own accommodations, as the airline did not provide coordinated lodging. The flight eventually departed safely approximately twelve hours later than scheduled.
Porter Airlines confirmed the cancellation was a safety-driven decision in line with Transport Canada regulations requiring all passengers,
including children, to be secured before takeoff. The airline apologized for the disruption and stated their crew followed standard safety protocols. Porter declined to confirm whether compensation beyond rebooking was offered to affected passengers.
Passengers reported poor communication from the airline after the cancellation. Passenger Hillary Hertzberg stated that the child finally disembarked around 11:30 p.m. after a lengthy delay, during which passengers remained on the grounded aircraft for close to an hour. She criticized the lack of clear information and said travelers had to manage overnight arrangements independently.
Federal aviation rules mandate that every passenger be properly restrained before
takeoff, regardless of age. Airlines commonly face safety and logistical challenges when young children refuse to comply with seatbelt requirements. At airports like Victoria International, strict overnight curfews allow no margin for delayed departures caused by in-cabin incidents, making cancellations necessary if flights cannot depart before 12:30 a.m.
Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights on the Victoria to Toronto route, excluding Saturdays. The disruption affected only Flight PD444 on this date and did not impact other Porter flights. The airline maintains a travel alerts page to provide updates on operational issues and advised passengers to check their flight status directly
for unrelated bookings.
