Child Refuses Seatbelt, Plane Turns Back and Flight Is Cancelled

(Porter Airlines. Photo by Sky News)

A Porter Airlines flight in Canada was cancelled after a child refused to fasten their seatbelt during departure from Victoria International Airport in British Columbia.

The aircraft had pushed back from the terminal and was heading to the runway when crew members and the child’s parent made repeated attempts to secure the youngster, but were unsuccessful.

The plane returned to the gate and the child and parent were removed along with their belongings.

All other passengers had to evacuate while the airline refiled flight plans and processed additional documentation.

The cancellation meant the Toronto-bound service missed the runway’s closure window at 12:30am, forcing passengers to remain overnight in British Columbia.

Porter Airlines attributed the incident to the child standing in their seat, which created unsafe conditions for departure.

The size and age of the child were not disclosed, nor was the passenger count on the 132-seat aircraft confirmed.

The airline issued an apology for the inconvenience and rebooked affected passengers on a flight the next day.

Passengers reported significant frustration about the situation.

One traveller noted the child appeared to be scared rather than misbehaving, and explained the youngster repeatedly hid beneath their seat and would slip out from under the seatbelt when restrained.

Another passenger criticised how long the disembarkation process took and said the airline’s communication following the cancellation was inadequate.

Some travellers had difficulty securing hotel accommodation and are now seeking compensation from the airline for their expenses.