A Porter Airlines flight scheduled to travel from Victoria International Airport to Toronto was cancelled on Thursday after a child would not sit down or buckle their seatbelt. The situation created a safety hazard that prevented the aircraft from taking off.
As the plane moved toward the runway, flight attendants and the child’s parent made multiple failed attempts to secure the passenger. Ultimately, the captain returned to the gate to remove the parent and child from the flight. While other passengers were also required to deplane due to administrative delays and flight planning requirements, the time needed to resolve the situation pushed the departure past the airport’s 12:30 a.m. curfew.
This delay left travelers stranded in British Columbia overnight, forcing the airline to rebook them on later flights. Porter Airlines issued an apology for the disruption. Passengers reported frustration regarding the lack of clear communication and the struggle to secure overnight accommodations. One witness, Aryeh Kozuch, noted the child appeared frightened rather than misbehaved, describing how the child continuously slid under the seat to avoid being restrained. The airline has not disclosed the child’s age or the exact number of people affected on the 132-seat plane.
