Air Canada Probes Ground Crew Incident in Cargo Hold

Air Canada is conducting an investigation into a recent incident involving a ground crew member trapped in the cargo hold of one of its flights. This occurrence took place on Air Canada Flight AC1502, which was set to depart from Toronto Pearson Airport to Moncton, New Brunswick, on December 13, 2025.

Details of the Incident

On January 3, 2026, a passenger with the username @travel.with.stephy shared a video of the event on social media. The video captured a voice over the intercom addressing passengers as the aircraft returned to the gate. The speaker mentioned, “I’ve never had that in my life… first time, hopefully the last.” They explained that the flight returned to the gate to safely remove a crew member from the airplane.

After the aircraft had begun taxiing, the ground crew member could be heard calling for help and banging from underneath the plane. Following this, the flight was ultimately unable to proceed to Moncton that day, and passengers were informed that the delay was due to circumstances beyond Air Canada’s control.

Air Canada’s Official Response

In response to the incident, Air Canada issued a statement confirming that the cargo doors of the aircraft were inadvertently closed while a ground crew member was inside. The airline emphasized that once the situation was discovered, the plane returned to the gate, and the doors were opened promptly. Fortunately, the airline reported that there were no injuries involved.

Public Reaction and Safety Concerns

The social media video elicited a wide range of reactions, with many expressing concern about the safety protocols for ground handling. One user, claiming to have experience as a baggage handler, commented, “I used to be a baggage guy, this is scary.”

Conclusion

The incident remains under investigation as Air Canada reviews its ground handling procedures. This event highlights the importance of safety measures in the airline industry, particularly for ground crew members.