Air Canada Flight Turns Back After Ground Worker Trapped in Cargo Hold

An Air Canada flight preparing for departure from Toronto was forced to return to the gate after passengers reported hearing shouting and banging from beneath the cabin floor—later discovered to be a ground crew member trapped inside the aircraft’s cargo hold.

The incident occurred on December 13 aboard Flight AC1502, operated by Air Canada subsidiary Air Canada Rouge, which was scheduled to fly from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Moncton, New Brunswick. The aircraft had begun taxiing for departure when passengers seated near the rear of the plane heard loud noises coming from below.

Passenger Gabrielle Caron told CBC that the sounds included repeated banging and shouting, prompting immediate concern among travelers. One passenger reportedly called emergency services after failing to get clarification about the source of the noise.

“The flight attendants were running back and forth,” Caron said. “On the ground, we could see the crew gathering around the plane.”

As concerns escalated, the flight crew made the decision to halt taxi operations and return the aircraft to the gate. A video shared on social media, allegedly recorded onboard the aircraft, captured the pilot addressing passengers and explaining the unusual delay.

“I’ve never had that in my life. First time, hopefully first and last,” the pilot said in the recording. “That’s the reason we had to go back to the gate and get that person out of the airplane.”

The captain reassured passengers that the trapped ground handler was “perfectly fine and safe,” though he cautioned that the flight would face additional delays due to required safety procedures and documentation. “We do apologise for all the delays today, and we’ll get you to Moncton as soon as we can,” he added.

After returning to the terminal, ground crews opened the cargo hold and safely removed the employee. No injuries were reported.

Air Canada later confirmed the incident in a statement to The Independent, saying the aircraft’s cargo doors had been inadvertently closed while a member of the ground crew was still inside.

“Upon discovery, the aircraft returned to the gate,” the airline said. “There were no injuries, but as this presented a potential safety issue, we have reinforced our procedures with our ground crews.”

The airline also told CBC that an internal investigation is underway to determine how the worker became trapped in the luggage hold and to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future.

While rare, such incidents highlight the complex coordination required between flight crews and ground staff during aircraft turnaround operations. Airlines rely on strict safety protocols to prevent personnel from being inside cargo compartments once doors are closed, making this event an unusual but serious lapse in standard procedures.

The flight eventually continued after the delay, and Air Canada said passenger safety and staff welfare remain its top priorities.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com, cbc.ca