Flight Cancelled Due to Toddler’s Seatbelt Refusal

An evening flight from British Columbia to Toronto experienced an unexpected cancellation due to a toddler’s refusal to buckle their seatbelt, according to confirmation from the airline to Fox News Digital. The Porter Airlines flight 444 was scheduled to depart from Victoria International Airport at 10:30 p.m.

The incident occurred as the aircraft began taxiing and a flight attendant noticed the child standing without securing their seatbelt. Attempts to have the child sit and buckle up were unsuccessful for both the accompanying adult and the airline crew.

The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.

This decision was necessary due to the airport’s takeoff curfew at 12:30 a.m. Delays caused by disembarking the passengers, removing their luggage, and completing necessary paperwork led to the flight’s cancellation. Consequently, other passengers remained overnight at the airport.

Porter Airlines apologized for the inconvenience caused to the other passengers and arranged for them to be rebooked on a flight the following Friday.

A child safety seat or restraint device is mandatory for children under two years of age flying with the airline. The age of the child involved in this incident remains unclear.

Brie Stimson, a writer based in Los Angeles, covers entertainment and breaking news for Fox News Digital.