On Thursday, August 6, 2026, Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 at Victoria International Airport after a toddler passenger repeatedly refused to wear a seatbelt, preventing safe departure.
Incident Details and Safety Concerns
Flight PD444 had left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway when cabin crew noticed the toddler standing on the seat unrestrained. Despite multiple attempts by flight attendants and the child’s parent to secure the child with the seatbelt, compliance was not achieved. Due to safety regulations requiring all passengers to be seated and properly restrained before takeoff, the crew returned the aircraft to the gate to allow the child and parent
to disembark.
Airport Curfew Leads to Flight Cancellation
Victoria International Airport enforces a strict overnight curfew that prohibits flight departures after 12:30 a.m. The time taken to resolve the seatbelt issue delayed the flight beyond this curfew, necessitating cancellation of the departure for that night. As a result, passengers were left stranded overnight at Victoria rather than continuing to Toronto Pearson International Airport as scheduled.
Rescheduled Departure and Flight Schedule
The delayed Flight PD444 ultimately departed approximately twelve hours later the next morning. Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights on the Victoria to Toronto route, excluding Saturdays, making same-day travel disruptions significant for affected customers.
Passenger Experience and Airline Response
Passengers reported waiting on the grounded
aircraft for nearly one hour before the child disembarked around 11:30 p.m. Criticism was raised regarding Porter’s communication during and after the delay, with travellers having to secure overnight accommodations in Victoria independently. Porter Airlines apologized for the disruption and confirmed its cabin crew adhered to established safety protocols throughout the incident. The airline described the child’s refusal to wear a seatbelt as a genuine safety concern requiring the cancellation. Porter also affirmed compliance with federal regulations governing flight delays and cancellations related to safety.
Industry Context
Federal aviation rules mandate all passengers, including young children, remain seated and buckled for departure.
Incidents involving children refusing seatbelt compliance pose ongoing challenges to airlines. Airports like Victoria International use overnight curfews to minimize noise disturbances, meaning delays past such cutoffs frequently result in full cancellations. This incident involving Flight PD444 was isolated and did not reflect broader operational disruptions for Porter Airlines.
