Which Canadian City and Airline Led 2025's Unruly Passenger Incidents?

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 14, 2026 at 01:34 AM•3 min read

Which Canadian City and Airline Led 2025's Unruly Passenger Incidents?

WestJet and Calgary led Canada's 2025 disruptive passenger reports, with 114 total incidents logged by Transport Canada, highlighting key aviation safety concerns.

Key Points

1WestJet accounted for nearly 60% of all 114 disruptive passenger reports filed in Canada in 2025.
2Calgary was the top city, linked to almost 40% of the total incidents reported to Transport Canada.
3Incidents included serious safety breaches such as indecent exposure, uttering threats, and vaping cannabis onboard.
4The data highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining aviation safety and security for airlines and flight attendants.

New data reveals a concerning trend in Canadian air travel safety. Transport Canada logged 114 disruptive passenger incidents in 2025. This data comes from the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS). The reports detail a wide range of inappropriate and dangerous behavior onboard aircraft.

Key Data on Unruly Passengers

WestJet was the airline most affected by these incidents. The Calgary-based carrier accounted for nearly 60% of all reports. This totaled 66 incidents for the year.

Calgary was also the city with the highest number of reports. Flights to and from Calgary made up almost 40% of the total incidents. Toronto followed with 27 reports, and Vancouver had 21. Other Canadian airlines, including Air Canada and Porter Airlines, also filed reports.

Types of Incidents Reported

The 114 reports detail serious breaches of aviation protocol. Incidents included passengers vaping cannabis in aircraft lavatories. Others involved uttering threats and instigating fights. There were also reports of indecent exposure and physical assault on flight attendants.

Such behavior poses a significant risk to aviation safety and security. Disruptive passengers can force flights to divert or return to the gate. This causes major delays and operational costs for airlines like Emirates globally.

Industry Response and Consequences

Airline unions, such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have voiced concerns. They note that disruptive passengers are a regular stressor for flight attendants. Cabin crew are the first line of contact for these challenging situations.

Airlines maintain a zero tolerance policy for abuse. WestJet and its subsidiary Sunwing Airlines confirmed this stance. Consequences for unruly passengers can be severe. These include arrest by police upon landing. Passengers may also be added to an airline no-fly list.

Global aviation bodies, including IATA, track these incidents closely. The organization advocates for stronger legal frameworks worldwide. This is necessary to prosecute offenders effectively. The rise in reports, despite a decrease from previous years, underscores the need for vigilance. The data highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining order at 30,000 feet.

For more analysis on air travel trends and commercial aviation news, visit our partners. The aviation industry, supported by manufacturers like Airbus, relies on passenger compliance. Safety is always the top priority.

Transport Canada cautions that CADORS reports are preliminary. They contain unconfirmed data that can be subject to change. However, the 2025 figures clearly point to specific areas of concern. They demand a focus on passenger conduct for all aviation stakeholders.