Air Canada Crew Member Trapped in Cargo Hold at Toronto Pearson, Prompting Safety Review.

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 14, 2026 at 01:34 AM•2 min read

Air Canada Crew Member Trapped in Cargo Hold at Toronto Pearson, Prompting Safety Review.

Air Canada confirmed a December incident where a baggage crew member was inadvertently trapped in an aircraft's cargo hold at Toronto Pearson Airport, leading to a flight cancellation and safety concerns.

Key Points

1Air Canada Flight AC1502, an Airbus A321A, returned to the gate at Toronto Pearson Airport on December 13, 2025, after a ground crew member was trapped in the cargo hold.
2The worker was rescued uninjured after passengers heard screaming and banging from below the cabin, prompting the pilot to halt taxiing.
3Aviation analysts attribute the event to a procedural oversight, specifically a failure to account for all personnel before the cargo doors were closed and the aircraft was dispatched.
4Air Canada confirmed the incident and stated it has reinforced its ground-handling procedures to prevent future occurrences.

A serious procedural lapse incident occurred on an Air Canada flight in December 2025. A ground crew member became trapped inside the aircraft's cargo hold. The incident happened at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ). The flight was Air Canada Rouge Flight AC1502, bound for Moncton, New Brunswick.

The aircraft had already begun to taxi toward the runway. Passengers then reported hearing frantic noises. They heard loud screaming and banging coming from beneath the cabin floor.

Incident Details and Rescue

The pilot was immediately alerted to the strange sounds. The aircraft, an Airbus A321A, quickly returned to the gate. Crew members opened the cargo hold doors. The baggage worker was rescued, shaken but completely unharmed.

Air Canada confirmed the doors were inadvertently closed while the employee was inside. The airline issued a statement. They confirmed that no injuries were reported. The flight was ultimately canceled due to the disruption.

Travel bloggers on board shared the harrowing experience. Passenger Gabrielle Caron recounted hearing the loud noises. Another passenger, Stephanie Curé, posted about the event on social media.

Aviation Safety Oversight

The incident has raised new questions about ground operations safety protocols. Aviation industry analyst John Gradek commented on the event. He suggested the occurrence was due to aviation safety oversight.

Gradek noted a failure in checking personnel before dispatch. The number of people around the aircraft seemed to be one short. This crucial check was not completed. He also confirmed the worker would have survived the flight. There was no danger of hypothermia at cruising altitude.

Air Canada stated the incident is under investigation. The airline has since reinforced its procedures with its ground crews. This action is critical for maintaining commercial aviation news standards. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets global standards. Ground handling procedures must ensure personnel accountability. Such procedural lapses pose a significant risk. They highlight the need for strict adherence to pre-flight checklists. This is vital for all airport operations. Read more about safety in commercial aviation news at flying.flights.