A Porter Airlines flight bound for Toronto was unceremoniously canceled and over 100 passengers were stranded overnight after a toddler refused to buckle their seat belt, an incident that forced the plane to return to the gate. Flight 444, scheduled to depart Victoria International Airport at 10:30 p.m., had already begun taxiing when a flight attendant observed the child standing in their seat and unwilling to be secured. Despite efforts from both the accompanying adult and the crew, the child remained unbuckled, rendering the aircraft unable to take off due to safety regulations. The decision was made to return to the terminal, leading to a lengthy disembarkation process for all passengers and their luggage. Compounding the delay, the airport’s strict 12:30 a.m. takeoff curfew meant that by the time the situation was resolved and necessary paperwork completed, the flight could no longer proceed. Consequently, the flight was canceled, forcing the stranded passengers to spend the night before being rebooked on a flight the following day. Porter Airlines has issued an apology for the disruption caused by the incident, the specifics of which, including the child’s age and the type of restraint they may have been using or refusing, remain unclear, though the airline mandates child safety seats for children under two.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
