In a startling aviation incident, a member of Air Canada's ground crew was accidentally locked inside the cargo hold of a commercial aircraft last month, forcing a flight scheduled to depart from Toronto's Pearson International Airport to return to the gate.
The Incident on Flight AC1502
The event occurred on December 13, 2025, aboard Air Canada flight AC1502, which was scheduled to travel from Toronto to Moncton, New Brunswick. According to the airline, the ground crew member became trapped when the cargo hold doors "inadvertently closed" while he was inside the compartment.
The aircraft had already begun taxiing for takeoff when the situation was discovered. "Upon discovery, the aircraft returned to the gate," Air Canada stated. The flight was subsequently cancelled and never reached its destination in Moncton.
Passengers Hear Cries for Help
Passengers onboard reported hearing distressing sounds coming from beneath the plane. French Canadian travel blogger and realtor Stephanie Curé, who posted about the event on Instagram, captured the moment an announcement was made to those onboard.
"We had already started taxiing when a baggage crew member was under the aircraft in the cargo and could be heard yelling for help and banging underneath us," Curé wrote in her post's caption. "Thankfully, he got out safely. I still can't believe this happened."
Another passenger, Gabrielle Caron, told the CBC that those seated at the rear of the plane heard "screaming and banging, trying to get their attention." Caron noted that the commotion prompted someone on the flight to call 911, and that flight attendants were seen "running back and forth" while ground crew gathered urgently outside.
Air Canada's Response and Safety Review
In its official statement, Air Canada confirmed that the trapped employee was not injured. "There were no injuries, but as this presented a potential safety issue, we have reinforced our procedures with our ground crews," the airline said.
The incident highlights a rare but serious procedural failure in ground operations. The crew member was successfully extracted after the plane returned to the gate. In the Instagram video shared by Curé, a voice can be heard addressing passengers, calling it a first-time occurrence and expressing hope it would be the last, while confirming the individual was "perfectly fine and safe."
While the immediate danger was resolved, the cancellation of the flight left passengers stranded. The incident is now part of Air Canada's internal safety review as it works to prevent any similar occurrences in the future at Toronto Pearson International Airport or across its network.
