Porter Airlines flight PD444 could not take off due to the “unsafe condition” on Thursday, Aug. 6
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Credit: Alamy
NEED TO KNOW
- A Porter Airlines flight was canceled after a toddler’s seatbelt could not be secured before takeoff
- The delay caused the flight to miss the airport’s runway curfew, forcing passengers to wait for a rescheduled flight
- Porter Airlines apologized to passengers and confirmed the rescheduled flight departed the following evening
A Porter Airlines flight to Toronto was canceled after a child refused to secure their seatbelt before takeoff.
On Thursday, Aug. 6, Porter Airlines flight PD444 had left the terminal at Victoria International Airport (YYJ) in Canada and was heading for the runway when crew members saw a toddler “standing in their seat,” Canadian news outlets CTV News and CP24 reported. Parents and a crew member had failed to secure the toddler’s seatbelt.
The plane returned to the terminal, where the family was transported off the plane.
“A young child was standing in their seat and would not secure their seatbelt,” the airline said in a statement to CTV News. “The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.”
Credit: Porter Airlines
The time it took to remove the family from the plane and file paperwork delayed the flight past 12:30 a.m. local time, which is when the airport’s runway closes, causing the flight to be canceled, per CTV News.
The family has not been publicly identified at this time.
Porter Airlines apologized “for the effect this had on other passengers.” They told CTV News a flight was rescheduled to depart on Friday, Aug. 7.
According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, the flight departed from YYJ on Friday at 10:49 p.m. local time and arrived in Toronto at 6:16 a.m. local time the next day.
Credit: Alamy
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The use of a child safety seat or restraint device is mandatory for an infant under 2 years old occupying a seat, Porter Airlines states on its website.
“Transport Canada highly recommends the use of an approved child restraint for all phases of the flight,” the airlines said. “It provides the highest degree of protection for your infant or child and its use during flight will help in case of unanticipated turbulence.”
“If you plan on having your child travel in a car seat on board the aircraft, you must purchase a seat on board for them. Porter does not supply car seats or any other child restraint systems,” the airline added.
PEOPLE has reached out to Porter Airlines and YYJ for comment.
