Air Canada Ground Worker Trapped in Baggage Hold Before Takeoff

An Air Canada ground crew member was rescued after becoming trapped inside the baggage hold of a Toronto-to-Moncton flight just moments before takeoff, prompting panic among passengers and a lengthy delay. The incident occurred on December 13 aboard Air Canada Rouge Flight 1502 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Passengers say the Airbus A321 aircraft had already begun taxiing toward the runway when flight attendants suddenly rushed through the cabin and the plane came to an abrupt stop. The pilot later announced that a ground worker was still inside the luggage compartment after the cargo doors had been mistakenly closed.

Several passengers seated toward the back of the plane reported hearing banging and muffled screams coming from beneath the cabin floor. One passenger said someone even called 911 after realizing a person was trapped inside the hold. The worker was eventually freed safely and later entered the cabin to confirm he was unharmed.

Air Canada confirmed that the cargo doors were “inadvertently closed” while a ground crew member was inside and said there were no injuries. The airline stated that the incident is under investigation, while the union representing ground workers declined to comment.

Following the rescue, the aircraft returned to the terminal and passengers were asked to disembark while paperwork was completed. The flight was ultimately cancelled after the pilot exceeded allowable work hours, forcing passengers to wait more than a day before departing.

Some passengers criticized Air Canada for not cancelling the flight sooner, saying repeated delays caused unnecessary frustration. Compensation varied, with some travellers receiving up to $1,000 while others were offered smaller vouchers.

Aviation analyst John Gradek said passengers may be entitled to higher compensation under Canadian air passenger protection regulations and suggested the incident likely resulted from a failure to follow standard ground-handling procedures. He noted that while the situation was serious, the worker was not in danger of hypothermia and would likely have survived even if the plane had taken off.

Investigators are expected to review loading procedures, staff accountability and how the error occurred as part of a full safety review.