A ground crew worker at Toronto Pearson International Airport had a terrifyingly close call after becoming trapped inside the cargo hold of an Air Canada Rouge aircraft as it prepared for takeoff. The incident, which occurred on a flight bound for Moncton, forced an emergency return to the gate and sparked a lengthy series of delays.
Passengers Hear Cries, Alert Crew
The alarming sequence of events unfolded on December 13, 2025. Air Canada Rouge flight AC1502, scheduled to depart Toronto for Moncton at 2 p.m. ET, had already experienced significant delays. After finally pushing back from the gate and beginning to taxi, passengers reported hearing distinct yelling and banging sounds coming from beneath the cabin floor.
Alerted by the concerned travellers, the cabin crew immediately notified the flight's captain. The aircraft was promptly brought to a halt on the taxiway before it could take off. In a viral video of the pilot's announcement later shared online, the captain addressed the passengers, calling the situation a first in his career. "I’ve never had that in my life. First time, hopefully, first and last," he said, confirming that a baggage handler was stuck in the forward cargo hold.
A Chaotic Night of Delays and Cancellations
The plane returned to the terminal, where the trapped worker was successfully extracted. The captain confirmed the individual was "perfectly fine and safe." However, the ordeal was far from over for the weary passengers.
According to a detailed Reddit post by a passenger, the flight's troubles were extensive. After the cargo hold incident, passengers deboarded for a pilot switch-around. They re-boarded with a new crew around 10 p.m., only to be forced off again an hour later due to a newly discovered mechanical issue. A replacement aircraft and crew were arranged, but at 1:15 a.m., Air Canada ultimately cancelled the flight entirely, rebooking passengers for 8 p.m. the following evening.
The timeline of the doomed flight AC1502 was as follows:
- 2:00 p.m. ET: Original scheduled departure time.
- 6:30 p.m. ET: Boarding finally begins after hours of delay.
- ~7:30 p.m. ET: Passengers learn a worker is trapped in the cargo hold after hearing noises during taxi.
- ~8:30 p.m. ET: Passengers deboard for a pilot change.
- ~10:00 p.m. ET: Passengers re-board with a new flight crew.
- 11:00 p.m. ET: A "mechanical issue" forces another deboarding.
- 1:15 a.m. ET: Flight is officially cancelled.
Investigation and Response
The incident raises serious questions about ground safety protocols at Canada's busiest airport. How a worker became enclosed in the cargo hold and the subsequent safety checks before pushback will likely be a focus of internal investigations by both the airline and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Pearson.
While the baggage handler escaped physical injury, the event highlights potential vulnerabilities in airport ramp procedures. Air Canada and Pearson officials were contacted for comment regarding the incident and any subsequent changes to safety measures.
For the passengers on AC1502, a routine trip turned into a 12-hour ordeal that never left the ground, culminating in a cancellation. The viral pilot's announcement served as a rare, candid glimpse into an unprecedented and dangerous situation that was narrowly avoided at Toronto Pearson.
