Porter Airlines cancelled flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport on August 8, 2026, after a toddler passenger stood on their seat and refused to fasten their seatbelt prior to takeoff.
Efforts to Secure Toddler Lead to Return and Cancellation
The incident occurred after the aircraft had closed its doors and left the terminal but before departure. Both the toddler’s parent and cabin crew tried repeatedly to have the child safely seated and buckled, but these attempts failed. Due to safety concerns caused by the unsecured child, the flight crew decided to abort the takeoff and return to the gate.
Following the return, all passengers
disembarked the aircraft, including the toddler and family. Additional procedures such as refiling the flight plan and recalculating weight and balance delayed any possibility of a timely departure. Victoria International Airport’s runway closes nightly at 12:30 a.m., and this rebuffed any option of departing before closure, resulting in the flight’s cancellation.
Rescheduled Flight Departs Next Morning
The rescheduled flight left Victoria International Airport at 10:49 a.m. local time on August 9, 2026, and landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport at 6:16 a.m. Eastern Time the same day, according to FlightAware data. Passengers were forced to spend an unplanned overnight stay in Victoria due to the
cancellation.
Porter Airlines Statement and Apology
Porter Airlines confirmed the cancellation in a statement, saying: “A young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt.” The airline added that the aircraft could not take off with an unsecured passenger and that the crew chose to return to the terminal and disembark passengers.
Brad Cicero, a Porter Airlines spokesperson, apologized for the disruption, stating, “We apologize for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day.” Cicero also cited adherence to safety procedures and the runway curfew as key factors influencing the decision.
Previous Child-Related Flight Disruptions at Porter Airlines
This is not the first time Porter Airlines has faced disruptions related to young passengers. The airline has been scrutinized over handling incidents involving children since 2023. Previous cases include a canceled flight over a face mask dispute involving children and challenges managing unaccompanied minors due to weight and balance issues.
Industry observers note a continuing trend of flight delays caused by unpredictable behavior from young children during boarding and takeoff. Discussions have occasionally surfaced suggesting adult-only flights as a response to such disruptions, although no major airlines currently implement such policies.
