On August 6, 2026, Porter Airlines cancelled a scheduled flight from Victoria to Toronto after a child passenger refused to wear a seatbelt.
The child was standing in the seat and did not secure the seatbelt despite repeated attempts by both the accompanying parent and the flight crew. Due to safety regulations, the crew decided to return the aircraft to the terminal and requested that the child and parent disembark.
Flight Delay and Passenger Rebooking
The incident caused a delay that extended beyond the runway closure time at Victoria airport, which occurs after midnight. Passengers had been on the plane for nearly an hour by
11:30 pm when the child and parent disembarked, making it impossible for the flight to take off before the airport closed at 12:30 am.
As a result, the flight was cancelled, and all other passengers were required to disembark. Porter Airlines spokesperson Brad Cicero confirmed that affected travelers were rebooked on a flight departing the following day.
Passenger Description and Safety Expert Commentary
Passenger Aryeh Kozuch described the child as scared rather than unruly, noting that the child kept hiding under the seat and, when restrained, slid out from under the seatbelt. This behavior contrasted with disruptive conduct often associated with children on flights.
Child aviation
safety expert Lia Tuso emphasized the importance of seatbelt use for children, stating that “unrestrained children can become projectiles,” which poses serious risks during turbulence or phases of flight such as takeoff and landing.
The event has sparked renewed discussion about airline policies concerning children’s behavior and the enforcement of safety rules, along with how airlines balance tolerance for families against overall passenger safety.
Official Statements on Safety and Apology
Porter Airlines issued a statement noting the child “was standing in their seat and would not secure their seat belt,” and that “attempts by the accompanying parent and crew to address this were unsuccessful.” The airline
clarified that “the aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition,” prompting the decision to have the child and parent exit the plane.
Brad Cicero, the airline’s spokesperson, apologized for the disruption to passengers and reiterated that safety concerns necessitated the cancellation. “We apologise for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day,” Cicero said.
Passenger Impact from Flight Cancellation
All travelers on the flight were forced to disembark and wait overnight at Victoria airport. Passenger Hillary Hertzberg commented on the delay, saying, “It took for ever,” highlighting passenger frustration over the extended wait
before the child and parent left the aircraft and the subsequent cancellation.
The delay and cancellation impacted the Victoria to Toronto route on August 6, 2026, stranding passengers and forcing rebooking arrangements.
