Air Canada temporarily lost widow's husband's ashes on Edmonton flight
Twyla Shannahan was forced to check her late husband's cremated remains despite calling ahead to confirm carry-on protocols.
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Twyla Shannahan was separated from her husband's cremated remains on a June 10 flight from Edmonton to St. John's after an Air Canada agent told her at check-in that the ashes had to go in a checked bag, contradicting what she'd confirmed weeks earlier by phone.
When Shannahan arrived in Newfoundland, the bag containing her late husband's ashes was missing — sent to Montreal instead. "My soul just dropped right out of me," she recalled. "I said like, 'I failed him. I had one job and I failed him.'" She insisted on collecting the remains herself rather than having them couriered, and is now calling for an investigation into Air Canada's handling of cremated remains.
Air Canada confirmed in a statement that cremated remains are accepted as carry-on "provided they meet applicable security requirements." The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) said in a statement that while cremated remains are generally permitted in carry-on luggage, dense materials like metal or stone urns can block X-ray machines. When screening alarms cannot be resolved, regulations may require passengers to check the container with their airline.
CATSA noted: "We recognize how sensitive and emotional such a situation can be. We are committed to treating passengers and their loved ones with dignity and respect while ensuring compliance with the regulations."
Shannahan had planned to scatter her husband's ashes in the ocean in his home province of Newfoundland, honouring a wish they'd discussed together during two decades of travel. "He wanted to go back home, so that was my job. I had to get him home," she said.
What specific documentation or container type would have allowed Shannahan to carry the ashes in her carry-on without triggering a security alarm?
Has Air Canada reviewed its gate-agent training on cremated-remains policies since this incident?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What happened to Twyla Shannahan's husband's ashes on her Air Canada flight?
On June 10, Twyla Shannahan was forced to check her late husband's cremated remains on an Air Canada flight from Edmonton to St. John's instead of carrying them on board as she had confirmed by phone weeks earlier. When she arrived in Newfoundland, the bag containing the ashes was missing and had been sent to Montreal instead.
Why did Air Canada require the ashes to be checked?
Air Canada's agent at check-in told Shannahan the ashes had to go in a checked bag, though the airline later confirmed cremated remains are accepted as carry-on if they meet security requirements. CATSA stated that dense materials in urns like metal or stone can block X-ray machines, and when screening alarms cannot be resolved, regulations may require passengers to check the container.
Why was Shannahan traveling with her husband's ashes?
Shannahan planned to scatter her husband's ashes in the ocean in Newfoundland, honouring a wish they had discussed together during two decades of travel.
