Quick Read
- On December 13, 2025, an Air Canada Rouge baggage handler was trapped in the cargo hold of flight AC1502 at Toronto Pearson Airport.
- Passengers heard yelling and banging from below as the plane taxied for takeoff, alerting cabin crew and the pilot.
- The pilot halted the aircraft, returned to the gate, and the handler was rescued unharmed.
- Air Canada stated cargo doors were “inadvertently closed” and confirmed reinforced procedures.
- The flight, bound for Moncton, faced multiple delays, pilot changes, mechanical issues, and was ultimately canceled after an 11-hour ordeal.
In a chilling close call that rattled passengers and airport staff alike, a baggage handler at Toronto Pearson International Airport found himself inadvertently trapped inside the cargo hold of an Air Canada Rouge aircraft as it began its taxi for takeoff. The dramatic incident, which unfolded on December 13, 2025, on Flight AC1502 bound for Moncton, New Brunswick, brought the aircraft to a screeching halt, sparked a frantic rescue, and ultimately plunged hundreds of travelers into a spiral of delays and cancellations.
A Cry from Below: Passengers Avert Disaster
The sequence of events reads like something out of a suspense thriller. Flight AC1502, an Air Canada Rouge service, had already been plagued by significant delays, initially scheduled to depart Toronto at 2 p.m. ET but only beginning its boarding process at 6:30 p.m. ET. As the plane finally started to push back from the gate and taxi towards the runway, a commotion erupted from within the cabin. Passengers seated towards the rear of the aircraft reported hearing muffled yelling and persistent banging sounds emanating from directly beneath them.
This was no ordinary mechanical noise; it was a desperate plea for help. Several vigilant passengers, including Gabrielle Caron, recounted to CBC how they quickly realized the gravity of the situation. Some immediately alerted the cabin crew, while others, fearing the worst, even contacted authorities. This quick thinking proved crucial, as the cabin crew swiftly relayed the alarming reports to the flight deck, prompting the pilot to bring the aircraft to an immediate and abrupt stop on the tarmac. The collective vigilance of the passengers undeniably played a pivotal role in preventing what could have been a far more tragic outcome.
The Pilot’s Unprecedented Announcement and Air Canada’s Response
Once the aircraft was safely halted, the pilot addressed the passengers in an announcement that quickly went viral online. “I’ve never had that in my life. First time, hopefully, first and last,” the pilot candidly admitted, his voice conveying a mix of surprise and relief. He confirmed that a member of the ground crew had been found trapped in the luggage area. “Thankfully, he’s safe!” a passenger chronicled on Reddit, echoing the collective sigh of relief among those on board. The pilot assured everyone that the handler was “perfectly fine and safe,” though he acknowledged the flight would face further delays to “deal with a bit of paperwork.”
The plane promptly returned to the terminal, where the trapped worker was safely rescued. Air Canada, in a statement to the Toronto Sun, confirmed the incident: “On flight AC1502 on December 13, 2025, the aircraft cargo doors were inadvertently closed while a member of the ground crew was inside.” The airline spokesperson added, “Upon discovery, the aircraft returned to the gate. There were no injuries, but as this presented a potential safety issue, we have reinforced our procedures with our ground crews.” This acknowledgement highlights a clear procedural lapse, underscoring the critical importance of stringent safety checks and clear communication protocols in the high-stakes environment of airport operations.
A Marathon of Delays: The Passenger Ordeal
While the immediate crisis of the trapped worker was resolved without injury, the ripple effects on the hundreds of passengers aboard Flight AC1502 were profound and prolonged. What began as a four-hour delay before boarding escalated into an odyssey of frustration. After the handler’s rescue, passengers were informed of further complications. Shortly before 8:30 p.m., they were asked to deboard the plane for a pilot switch-over. By 10 p.m., with new pilots at the helm, they were back on board, hopeful for departure.
However, their ordeal was far from over. An hour later, at 11 p.m., a “mechanical issue” was detected, forcing passengers to disembark once again. The airline then announced that another plane would be needed. A new aircraft and crew eventually arrived, but the seemingly endless wait culminated in the ultimate disappointment: at 1:15 a.m., Air Canada informed the weary travelers that the flight was officially canceled. Passengers were rebooked for 8 p.m. the following night, leaving many stranded and exasperated, with no specific reason given for the final cancellation beyond the cumulative issues. The detailed account shared by a passenger on Reddit paints a vivid picture of a travel day that stretched into an exhausting, unexpected overnight stay.
Reinforcing Safety: Lessons from a Near-Miss
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent complexities and potential vulnerabilities within the seemingly seamless choreography of modern air travel. Airport ground operations are a finely tuned ballet of precision and coordination, involving numerous personnel, specialized equipment, and time-sensitive tasks. The inadvertent closure of a cargo door with a worker inside, though rare, underscores the critical need for absolute vigilance at every step. Each procedure, from loading baggage to securing compartments, is designed with multiple layers of checks and balances to prevent such occurrences.
Air Canada’s swift acknowledgement and commitment to reinforcing procedures indicate a recognition of the seriousness of the lapse. This typically involves reviewing and updating checklists, enhancing communication protocols between ground crews and flight deck personnel, and potentially implementing new technological safeguards to ensure all compartments are clear before closure. For the ground crew member involved, the experience must have been terrifying, a momentary realization of being in a confined space with a giant machine preparing for flight. For the airline, it’s a costly lesson, not just in terms of flight delays and cancellations, but in the imperative to uphold the highest standards of safety and operational integrity.
The collective actions of the passengers, the pilot’s calm handling of an unprecedented situation, and Air Canada’s subsequent commitment to procedural reinforcement collectively paint a picture of a system that, while imperfect, is designed to learn and adapt. The incident highlights that even in a highly automated and regulated industry, human vigilance remains an irreplaceable component of safety.
The incident on Flight AC1502, while thankfully ending without physical injury, starkly illuminates the delicate balance between efficiency and safety in air travel. It underscores how a single procedural oversight, even in a system designed for redundancy, can trigger a cascading series of events, leading to significant operational disruption and profound inconvenience for hundreds of travelers. Ultimately, it reinforces the invaluable role of human awareness and the continuous need for rigorous safety protocols to safeguard both ground personnel and passengers in the dynamic environment of modern aviation.