Porter Airlines cancelled flight PD444 scheduled from Victoria International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport on August 12, 2026, due to a child passenger refusing to fasten their seatbelt despite multiple attempts by the cabin crew and the child’s parent.
The child repeatedly stood up and would not buckle the seatbelt during boarding and taxiing. Attempts by the parent and crew to secure the child were unsuccessful, resulting in the aircraft returning to the gate and passengers being deplaned.
Airline statement and expert commentary
Brad Cicero, Porter Airlines spokesperson, said, “The aircraft could not depart in such an unsafe condition, so the crew made the
decision to return to the gate and deplane both passengers.” Cicero apologized for the disruption and confirmed the flight operated the next afternoon.
Children’s aviation safety expert Lea Tousseau explained that unrestrained children pose a safety risk as they can become projectiles during turbulence, especially on takeoff and landing phases.
Passenger Arieh Kovler reported that the child on the flight appeared frightened, hiding beneath the seat and slipping out each time the parent or crew tried to buckle him in.
Passenger impact and airport constraints
After returning to the terminal, all passengers had to disembark. Due to the Victoria International Airport runway closing at midnight,
the original flight could not depart later that night and all passengers were rebooked on a flight the following day.
The scheduled runway closure limited the option to delay departure to allow the situation to be resolved onboard.
Safety regulations and similar past incidents
The refusal to comply with seatbelt requirements created an unsafe environment that prevented the aircraft’s departure. Seatbelt enforcement is critical for child passenger safety as unsecured children pose dangers during turbulence or sudden aircraft movements.
Similar incidents in past years involving child passengers have also resulted in flight removals or cancellations, highlighting ongoing challenges airlines face managing disruptive passengers and enforcing safety
protocols.
