Porter Airlines cancels Victoria-Toronto flight after child refuses to buckle seatbelt
Safety hold-up on the runway forced the airline to deplane passengers before the aircraft missed Victoria airport's 12:30 a.m. runway closure.
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Porter Airlines cancelled Flight PD444 from Victoria International Airport to Toronto on Thursday evening after a young child refused to secure their seatbelt, forcing the aircraft to return to the gate and miss the airport's midnight runway closure.
The plane had already pushed back from the terminal and was heading to the runway when flight attendants discovered the child standing in their seat. Despite attempts by the accompanying parent and cabin crew to get the child buckled in, the unsafe situation meant the aircraft could not take off, Brad Cicero, a Porter spokesperson, said in a statement.
The crew elected to return to the terminal and disembark passengers. By the time flight attendants retrieved the child and parent, retrieved their baggage, and completed the necessary paperwork, it was too late to depart before Victoria's runway closure at 12:30 a.m. The airline did not disclose how many passengers were aboard or whether they received compensation or overnight accommodation.
"We apologize for the effect this had on other passengers, who were able to depart on a flight the following day," Cicero said. The rescheduled flight departed Friday evening and arrived in Toronto early Saturday morning.
The cancellation highlights the strict safety protocols airlines maintain around seatbelt compliance, even when it means significant operational disruption.
How many passengers were on Flight PD444?
What compensation, if any, did the airline offer to affected passengers?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
What caused Porter Airlines to cancel Flight PD444?
A child refused to buckle their seatbelt after the aircraft had pushed back from the terminal in Victoria. Flight attendants and the accompanying parent were unable to secure the child, making takeoff unsafe, so the crew returned to the gate.
When did the rescheduled flight arrive in Toronto?
The rescheduled Porter Airlines flight departed Victoria on Friday, August 7, 2026 evening and arrived in Toronto early Saturday morning, August 10, 2026.
Why did Porter Airlines miss Victoria airport's runway closure?
After returning to the terminal, the time required to retrieve the child and parent, collect their baggage, and complete paperwork meant the aircraft could not depart before Victoria International Airport's 12:30 a.m. runway closure.
