Child's refusal to wear seatbelt cancels flight, strands passengers overnight

A Porter Airlines flight bound for Toronto was cancelled at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia after a child refused to sit down and fasten their seatbelt, creating unsafe conditions for takeoff. The parent and child were removed from the plane, but the incident delayed the flight beyond the runway's operational hours.

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They just kept hiding under their seat. If they got forced into being strapped in, they just kind of slid out underneath.

The aircraft had already left the terminal and was taxiing when cabin crew and the parent repeatedly attempted to secure the child. According to the airline, the child stood in their seat and would not remain fastened despite these efforts. The plane returned to the gate, and the disembarkation process for the parent and child, along with their luggage, further extended the delay.

Passengers were forced to deplane while the airline refiled flight plans and completed necessary paperwork. By the time these procedures were finished, the runway had closed for the night. This resulted in all passengers being stranded in British Columbia overnight and rebooked for the following day. Porter Airlines issued an apology for the inconvenience.

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it took forever

Passengers shared their frustration with Canadian broadcaster CBC. One passenger, Aryeh Kozuch, noted the child seemed frightened rather than unruly, sliding out from under their seat when attempts were made to strap them in. Another passenger, Hillary Hertzberg, criticized the airline's communication and the lengthy disembarkation process, with some passengers seeking compensation for unexpected hotel costs.

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a lot of frustration