Air Canada Rouge Airbus A321 Returns: Passengers Prevent Disaster on Flight AC1502.

An Air Canada Rouge safety incident occurred on December 13, 2025. Flight AC1502 was preparing for departure from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). The destination was Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM).

Passenger Alert Prevents Tragedy

The Toronto Pearson flight AC1502 was already taxiing toward the runway. Passengers reported hearing unusual banging and screams. The noises came from beneath the cabin floor. Alert passengers quickly notified the cabin crew. The flight crew immediately halted taxi operations. They returned the Airbus A321 aircraft to the gate.

Ground staff investigated the noise at the gate. They discovered a baggage handler trapped cargo hold. The worker had been accidentally sealed inside. The individual was safely removed and uninjured. This passenger alert prevents disaster scenario was fortunate.

Ground Handling Safety Lapse

This incident exposed a serious ground handling safety lapse. Strict aviation ground safety procedures exist to prevent this. These protocols include physical checks before cargo doors close. Air Canada has since launched an internal investigation. The goal is to understand the circumstances of the malfunction.

The Risk of Cargo Holds

Cargo holds are not designed for human occupancy. Had the aircraft taken off, the consequences could be catastrophic. While some holds are pressurized, temperatures can drop significantly. Oxygen levels can also fluctuate dangerously. Extended exposure to the cargo hold pressurization temperature environment can cause hypothermia. This makes the timely discovery by passengers critical.

Operational Disruption and Aftermath

The immediate danger was resolved quickly. However, the disruption continued for passengers. The flight was already delayed by several hours. The situation resulted in an extensive airline operational disruption.

Passengers were asked to deplane due to crew duty time limitations. The flight cancellation Toronto Moncton was eventually confirmed. This occurred after further mechanical issues arose. Passengers were rebooked or provided with a replacement flight the next day. The incident renews focus on safety protocols across all ground operations. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stresses the importance of adherence to these rules. For more on commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights. Air Canada Rouge, a subsidiary of Air Canada, operates the Airbus fleet.