Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, to Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ontario, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after a toddler passenger refused to remain seated and buckle their seatbelt during taxi prior to takeoff.
Child’s Seatbelt Refusal Causes Safety Violation
Flight PD444 had already left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway at Victoria International Airport when cabin crew noticed the toddler standing on their seat instead of sitting properly secured with a seatbelt, violating mandatory safety regulations for departure. Repeated attempts by cabin crew and the child’s parent to have the child restrained were unsuccessful. Canadian aviation regulations and
international safety standards require all passengers to be properly secured before takeoff regardless of age.
Aircraft Returns to Gate and Misses Airport Curfew
The flight crew made the decision to abort the takeoff and return the aircraft to the terminal at Victoria International Airport. The child eventually disembarked at around 11:30 p.m., after passengers had been on the grounded aircraft for close to an hour. The disembarking process and administrative procedures delayed the flight beyond the airport’s strict overnight noise abatement curfew, which begins at 12:30 a.m., preventing departure that night.
Cancellation Results in Overnight Passenger Stranding
Because of the curfew and delay, Flight PD444 was cancelled for the night, leaving passengers stranded overnight
in Victoria. Passengers had to arrange their own overnight accommodations. Porter Airlines rebooked the affected travelers on a delayed flight that departed roughly twelve hours later the following morning to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Airline Statements and Passenger Criticism
Porter Airlines described the cancellation as a necessary safety precaution due to “the child’s refusal to remain properly seated and secured as a genuine safety issue that left the crew with no viable option but to abort the departure.” The airline apologized for the disruption and confirmed that standard safety protocols were followed. Passengers criticized the airline’s communication, especially after the flight was formally cancelled, and
noted the slow process, which left them sitting on the aircraft for close to an hour. They also reported inadequate assistance with arranging overnight accommodations.
Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights on the Victoria–Toronto route, running daily except Saturdays. The disruption affected only Flight PD444 with no reports of impact on other Porter services.
Regulatory Context and Industry Challenges
Canadian federal regulations mandate that all passengers, irrespective of age, must be seated and properly secured with a seatbelt for takeoff. Victoria International Airport enforces a strict overnight curfew starting at 12:30 a.m. for noise abatement, which contributed to the need for cancellation once the delay
extended past the cutoff. Such incidents involving non-compliant young children present safety and operational challenges industry-wide, often resulting in schedule disruptions and passenger rebooking efforts.
