Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 on August 10, 2026, at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia after a child passenger refused to sit down and fasten their seatbelt. The flight was scheduled to depart for Toronto but was halted before takeoff due to safety concerns.
Child Passenger’s Unsecured Seat becomes Safety Concern
The child repeatedly refused to remain seated and buckled despite numerous efforts by their parent and cabin crew. Canadian aviation regulations mandate that all passengers, including young children, must be securely seated with seatbelts fastened during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. The child was described as frightened, hiding under the seat, and repeatedly slipping out of
the seatbelt when attempted to be restrained.
Flight Delay and Return to Terminal
The aircraft had already left the terminal and was taxiing toward the runway when crew members decided it could not safely take off with the child unsecured. According to Porter Airlines spokesman Brad Cicero, the plane returned to the gate to remove the parent and child along with their luggage. This process extended past the airport’s 12:30 a.m. runway closure, forcing the flight to be cancelled for that day. Passengers were instructed to disembark after spending nearly an hour onboard during the delay. The child left the plane at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Official Response and Passenger Rebooking
Brad
Cicero apologized to those affected by the disruption and confirmed that all remaining passengers were rebooked on a flight departing the following day. “We apologise for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day,” he said.
Passenger Experience During Delay
Passengers reported a long wait aboard the aircraft with minimal information. One passenger, Aryeh Kozuch, described the child’s behaviour, stating, “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, commented on the duration of the delay, saying,
“It took forever. The kid eventually got off the plane at 11.30pm, so we had been on the flight for almost an hour at that point.”
