Porter Flight Cancelled After Child Refuses Seatbelt

A Porter Airlines flight from Victoria, British Columbia, to Toronto was cancelled on the night of August 6, 2026, after a young child refused to remain seated and fasten a seatbelt while the aircraft was taxiing for departure. The incident triggered a series of operational procedures that ultimately caused the flight to miss Victoria International Airport's overnight runway curfew, leaving passengers stranded overnight.

Porter Airlines flight PD444 had already left the terminal and was heading toward the runway when cabin crew noticed the child standing on a seat and refusing to secure the seatbelt. According to the airline, both the child's parents and cabin crew members attempted to resolve the situation but were unsuccessful. A Porter Airlines spokesperson stated that the aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew decided to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.

The return to the gate initiated a lengthy process. Porter Airlines explained that the procedure included deboarding the affected family, locating and unloading their checked baggage from the cargo hold, refiling the flight plan with air traffic control, and completing...