Porter PD444 Canceled After Child Refuses Seatbelt

Porter Airlines canceled flight PD444 from Victoria to Toronto after a young child stood and refused to buckle the seatbelt, despite attempts by the parent and cabin crew. The crew determined the aircraft could not take off in an unsafe condition and returned to the terminal to disembark the passengers. The delay pushed the departure past Victoria International Airport’s 12:30 a.m. runway closure. Many travelers were stranded overnight and rebooked for the following day, with Porter and the airport apologizing for the disruption. Regulators' safety guidelines require passengers to be seated with seatbelts fastened during taxi, takeoff, landing and other critical periods, which framed the decision to cancel. Reports vary on the child’s age and the number of affected passengers, but the safety rationale and scheduling of a new departure are consistent.