On August 6, 2026, Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport, British Columbia, to Toronto Pearson International Airport after a toddler refused to remain seated and buckle their seatbelt. The flight had already left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway when cabin crew noticed the issue and, after repeated attempts by attendants and the child’s parent to comply failed, returned to the terminal so the child and parent could disembark.
The delay caused by the child’s refusal to buckle exceeded Victoria International Airport’s strict 12:30 a.m. overnight curfew, which is enforced to reduce noise disruption to
nearby communities, resulting in the flight’s cancellation. Passengers remained seated on the grounded aircraft for almost an hour before the child finally disembarked at around 11:30 p.m., and were stranded overnight in Victoria.
The following morning, roughly twelve hours after the original schedule, Flight PD444 departed safely. Porter Airlines rebooked passengers on the delayed flight the next day. Some passengers criticized the airline’s communication and handling of accommodations after the cancellation.
Porter Airlines confirmed the toddler’s refusal to buckle was a genuine safety concern, necessitating the cancellation. The airline apologized for the disruption and emphasized that cabin crew acted in
accordance with federal and international safety protocols. They did not confirm if compensation was offered but committed to federally mandated minimum standards for treatment during delays and cancellations.
Federal aviation regulations require all passengers, regardless of age, to be seated and properly secured before takeoff. Incidents involving children refusing to buckle seatbelts are an ongoing safety challenge in the airline industry. Victoria International Airport’s overnight curfew combined with safety protocols illustrates how operational restrictions can cause significant flight disruptions. Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights on the Victoria to Toronto route, except Saturdays, and provides operational updates on its travel
alerts page.
