Porter Airlines Flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport was canceled on Thursday, August 6, 2026, after a young child passenger repeatedly refused to remain seated and buckle their seatbelt prior to takeoff.
The aircraft had already left the gate and was taxiing toward the runway at Victoria International Airport when a flight attendant noticed the child standing on their seat without the seatbelt fastened. Despite repeated efforts by the cabin crew and the child’s parent to secure the child’s seatbelt, the child continued to resist.
For safety reasons, the flight crew decided to abort the
departure and return the plane to the gate to allow the child and parent to disembark. The process delayed the flight significantly, with the child and parent finally leaving the aircraft around 11:30 p.m. after passengers had been sitting on board for close to an hour.
Impact of airport curfew on flight cancellation
The delay caused Flight PD444’s departure preparations to extend beyond Victoria International Airport’s strict overnight operating curfew of 12:30 a.m., which aims to reduce noise impact on surrounding communities.
The curfew prevented the flight from departing that evening, resulting in the cancellation of the flight. Passengers were stranded overnight in Victoria, forced to arrange
their own accommodation independently. Porter Airlines rebooked the affected travellers on the next available flight, which departed approximately 12 hours later the following morning.
Official response and safety protocol adherence
A Porter Airlines spokesperson confirmed the incident and described the child’s refusal to buckle the seatbelt as a genuine safety concern that left the crew no option but to delay and then cancel the flight. The airline apologized to passengers affected by the disruption and stated that cabin crew followed standard safety procedures throughout the event.
Porter Airlines referenced compliance with federal safety regulations, which mandate that all passengers, regardless of age, must be securely seated
and buckled before an aircraft can safely take off. The airline’s policies commit to meeting federally required standards for passenger treatment during safety-related delays and cancellations, potentially including meal vouchers and accommodations depending on the circumstances.
Incident isolated to Flight PD444; passenger criticisms
This incident was specific to Flight PD444 and did not affect other Porter Airlines operations. The airline maintains an online portal for travel alerts and advisories to inform customers about flight statuses and operational disruptions.
Some passengers voiced dissatisfaction with the communication and handling of the delay. Passenger Hillary Hertzberg said the child disembarked around 11:30 p.m. after nearly an hour sitting on the
grounded aircraft. Hertzberg criticized Porter Airlines for inadequate communication following the cancellation and expressed a desire for compensation to cover expenses related to the overnight disruption.
Another passenger, Arié Kozuchi, described the child’s behavior as fearful, noting the child repeatedly hid under the seat during the ordeal.
Safety concerns around unbuckled children in flight
Aviation safety experts, including children’s aviation safety expert Lia Tussaud, emphasize the risks posed by passengers who are not properly secured during takeoff, landing, and turbulence. Tussaud explained that unbuckled children can be thrown by sudden movements, potentially injuring themselves or other passengers.
Victoria International Airport’s overnight curfew amplifies the consequences of in-cabin
delays, as even minor hold-ups can push flight operations beyond allowable times, leading to cancellations.
Porter Airlines operates six weekly flights between Victoria and Toronto, running daily except Saturdays. The canceled Flight PD444 on August 6 highlighted how in-cabin incidents can cause extended operational disruptions, especially at airports with stringent noise regulations.
