Porter Airlines flight cancelled after child refuses to fasten seatbelt
A Porter Airlines flight from Victoria to Toronto was cancelled after a child stood on their seat and refused to wear a seatbelt, triggering airport curfew complications that prevented departure.
Child stands on seat and refuses seatbelt: Flight cancelled
A Porter Airlines flight from Victoria International Airport to Toronto was cancelled on August 6, 2026, after a child refused to fasten their seatbelt, setting off a chain of events that ultimately made departure impossible due to airport operating restrictions.
Flight PD444, originally scheduled to depart at 10:30 PM for the four-hour nonstop journey to Toronto, had already left the terminal and was taxiing toward the runway when cabin crew observed the child standing on their seat and refusing to secure their seatbelt. Both the child's parent and crew members attempted unsuccessfully to fasten the seatbelt.
Federal aviation regulations require all passengers to fasten seatbelts during aircraft movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing. The aircraft could not legally depart with an unsecured passenger, forcing the crew to return to the terminal.
Airport curfew triggers cancellation
The decision to return to the gate initiated a series of mandatory procedures that proved time-consuming. The family and their baggage had to be removed from the aircraft, and flight plans along with other paperwork needed to be refiled.
Victoria International Airport, which operates from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM daily, imposes operational restrictions after 12:30 AM that effectively limit flight operations. By the time all required procedures were completed, the runway curfew had passed, making departure impossible.
Porter Airlines, Canada's third-largest carrier behind Air Canada and WestJet, operates six weekly flights on the Victoria-Toronto route, serving the connection all days except Saturday. Affected passengers were required to remain in Victoria overnight and departed on another flight on August 7.
Part of broader passenger compliance trend
The incident reflects ongoing challenges with passenger compliance in the aviation industry. International Air Transport Association data shows that non-compliance with crew instructions remains the most frequently reported issue in unruly passenger incidents globally. The rate of such incidents improved from one occurrence every 307 flights in 2024 to one every 355 flights in 2025, based on reports from more than 140 operators worldwide.
While current regulations permit children under age 2 to be held on an adult's lap during flights, aviation safety authorities have long recommended that all children be secured in approved child restraint systems in their own seats for maximum protection during critical flight phases.
A Porter Airlines spokesperson apologized for the disruption and its impact on other passengers. The family involved has not been publicly identified.
