Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 on August 6, 2026, at Victoria International Airport due to a toddler passenger refusing to stay seated and buckled for takeoff. The flight was scheduled to depart for Toronto Pearson International Airport but was halted to address the safety issue.
The flight had already left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway when cabin crew observed the toddler standing on their seat without fastening a seatbelt. Despite repeated efforts by flight attendants and the child’s parent to seat and secure the child, compliance was not achieved, leading the crew to return the aircraft to
the gate so the child and parent could disembark.
This process extended beyond Victoria International Airport’s strict overnight curfew of 12:30 a.m., preventing the flight from departing that evening. The airport enforces this curfew to reduce noise disturbances for nearby communities, and the delay caused by the in-cabin incident pushed Flight PD444 past the allowed operating time.
Passengers remained on the grounded aircraft for nearly an hour before the child disembarked around 11:30 p.m. Passengers were then left to make independent arrangements for overnight accommodation in Victoria after the flight was officially cancelled. Some travellers criticized Porter Airlines for inadequate
communication and lack of support in managing accommodations during the disruption.
Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights on the Victoria-to-Toronto route, every day except Saturdays. Flight PD444 departed about 12 hours late the next morning, resuming nonstop service to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The airline characterized the cancellation as a necessary safety measure and apologized for the disruption, affirming that cabin crew followed federal safety protocols throughout the event.
Federal aviation rules require every passenger to be seated and properly restrained during taxi and takeoff. Airlines commonly face challenges when young children refuse to comply with seatbelt regulations, which can
take time to resolve. Additionally, Victoria International’s overnight curfew can transform in-cabin delays into cancellations when departures are delayed beyond the cutoff, as happened with Flight PD444.
