Air Canada recently faced an unexpected situation. We’ve often come across incidents where flights turn back or face delays due to common reasons like technical issues or fog reducing visibility. However, this time, the situation was different, as passengers heard someone shouting for help from inside the plane. The incident caused a brief delay but ensured everyone’s safety. Scroll down to know more!
Air Canada Turns Back
The incident happened on December 13, 2025, at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Flight AC1502 was scheduled to fly from Toronto to Moncton in Canada. Operated by Air Canada Rouge, the aircraft was taxiing on the runway and was almost ready for takeoff when passengers heard something unusual.
Passengers seated near the back of the plane heard loud banging and shouting coming from beneath the floor. Gabrielle Caron, one of the passengers, later told CBC that the noises were hard to ignore. People quickly became concerned and informed the cabin crew. One passenger even called 911.
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Flight Attendants React Quickly
After listening to the passengers, the cabin crew reacted immediately. They moved quickly through the cabin to understand what was happening. Soon after, the pilot decided to stop the aircraft and return to the gate. From inside the plane, passengers could see airport staff gathering around the aircraft once it stopped.
According to CBC, after opening the gates, it was discovered that a ground handler was stuck in the cargo hold. Thanks to everyone’s quick response, the person was safe and unharmed. Air Canada later confirmed the incident in an official statement. They revealed that the cargo doors were accidentally closed while a ground crew member was still inside. An investigation is underway to understand how the mistake occurred. After the rescue, the flight faced further delays due to security checks and paperwork, and later flew to its destination.
According to the airline, this incident raised a serious safety concern and led to stronger safety rules and checks for ground staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
We hope such incidents do not happen in the future and that ground staff at airports stay safe.
Also Read: Air India Flights From Mumbai &; Amritsar Diverted Due To Bad Weather In UK
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/ Adam Moreira