Air Canada Passengers Alarmed by Screams Heard from Below Aircraft During Taxiing

Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight were left terrified last month when screams suddenly echoed from beneath the cabin just before takeoff, revealing a ground crew member trapped in the cargo hold.

The incident occurred on December 13 as Air Canada Flight 1502 was preparing to depart Toronto Pearson Airport for Moncton, New Brunswick. The Airbus aircraft, carrying 184 passengers, was taxiing toward the runway when disturbing sounds of muffled banging and desperate screams filled the rear of the plane.

“Some of the people that were sitting towards the back of the plane heard the person screaming and banging, trying to get their attention,” passenger Gabrielle Caron told CBC News. Flight attendants reportedly sprinted down the aisle in alarm as the commotion intensified.

According to officials, a ground crew member became trapped inside the plane’s cargo hold when doors “inadvertently closed” behind him. The aircraft halted before reaching the runway, and moments later, the trapped worker emerged safely from the cargo area and entered the cabin, assuring shaken passengers that he was unharmed.

Caron explained that the crew member involved had reportedly been assisting ground staff with loading items as an extra set of hands and may have been left unaccounted for when the cargo doors closed – a potentially dangerous oversight in aviation safety protocols.

Air Canada confirmed to CBC that no injuries were reported in the incident. Following the event, the plane returned to the terminal where passengers were asked to disembark while the flight crew completed necessary documentation and safety checks. After several hours of delays, the flight was ultimately canceled.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about ground crew safety at major airports. Similar occurrences, though rare, have happened at other airports around the world, raising questions about procedural gaps in the coordination between flight crews and ground personnel during pre-flight operations.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest aviation hub, handles hundreds of thousands of flights annually. The incident comes at a time when air travel has rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels, putting increased pressure on ground operations and safety protocols across North America.

Aviation safety experts note that cargo hold incidents represent a serious breach of standard operating procedures. Commercial aircraft cargo holds typically have limited oxygen, extreme temperature fluctuations, and minimal lighting, making them extremely dangerous environments for inadvertent human occupation. Most modern aircraft have some form of emergency release mechanisms inside cargo compartments, but these are not designed for routine use.

For Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, this incident comes as the carrier continues to rebuild operations following the pandemic-related travel disruptions. The company has been working to improve operational reliability amid increased demand and staffing challenges that have affected the entire aviation industry.

Transport Canada, the country’s aviation regulator, has not publicly commented on whether the incident will trigger a formal safety investigation. However, standard procedure following such events typically involves internal reviews of ground handling protocols and crew coordination procedures.

Air Canada has not released additional details about potential procedural changes following the incident, which fortunately ended without injury to passengers, crew, or the trapped worker.

The 184 passengers affected by the flight cancellation were reportedly accommodated on alternative flights to Moncton, a city in eastern Canada’s New Brunswick province.