Key Takeaways
- A ground crew member was trapped in the baggage hold of an Air Canada Rouge plane at Toronto Pearson International Airport on December 13.
- The incident occurred when the aircraft cargo doors were inadvertently closed while the crew member was inside.
- Passengers on the plane heard the crew member’s cries for help and alerted the flight attendants, who then stopped the plane from taking off.
- The crew member was rescued safely, but the incident caused a significant delay, and the flight was eventually cancelled and rescheduled for the next day.
- Air Canada is investigating the incident, and passengers are entitled to compensation for the disruption.
Introduction to the Incident
Gabrielle Caron was on her way home from a vacation in Mexico when her connecting flight from Toronto to Moncton took an unexpected turn. Air Canada Rouge Flight 1502 was taxiing toward the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport when Caron noticed flight attendants frantically running down the aisle of the cabin. The plane eventually came to a halt before reaching the runway, and Caron looked out the window to see the crew gathering around the plane. The pilot then announced that there was someone from the crew in the luggage hold. When the worker eventually made it out safely, Caron said, he entered the airplane’s cabin to let everyone know he was safe.
The Investigation and Response
The incident on the Airbus 321A, which can carry up to 184 passengers, happened on December 13. Air Canada said in an email that the aircraft cargo doors were inadvertently closed while a member of the ground crew was inside. The airline also confirmed that there were no injuries, and the incident is under investigation. The union representing the ground crew workers said it couldn’t comment. Caron said the plane eventually returned to the terminal, and passengers were asked to disembark while the flight crew filed paperwork. She said the flight was delayed further after the pilot’s work hours "timed out," and they couldn’t make the trip east.
Passenger Accounts and Reactions
Caron said it wasn’t until she talked to other passengers as they got off the plane that she understood the gravity of the situation. Some of the people who were sitting towards the back of the plane heard the person screaming and banging, trying to get their attention. One of the people even said that they called 911. Stephanie Cure, also from Moncton, was one of the passengers who heard the crew member’s cries for help. She initially was using her headphones and didn’t hear anything until the people around her alerted her to the commotion. Cure then took out her phone and started filming, eventually posting it on her personal travel-focused social media accounts, where it got almost 500,000 views on Instagram alone.
Compensation and Regulatory Issues
According to aviation industry analyst John Gradek, passengers like Caron are entitled to more compensation. Gradek, a professor at McGill University, said that given the outcome for the passengers, there are grounds for legal action. He believes the occurrence was the result of the ground crew following improper procedures. The aircraft never lifted off the ground, but if it had, Gradek said, the crew member would have survived the flight. As the investigation is being conducted, it should answer questions such as when the door was closed, how many bags were being loaded, and who closed the door. Caron said Air Canada only sent her a $400 voucher and apologized for the delay, while Cure said she was compensated with $1,000 because of the disruption.
Conclusion and Reflection
As the investigation continues, it is clear that the incident was a result of human error and improper procedures. The fact that the crew member was trapped in the baggage hold and the passengers heard his cries for help is a disturbing reminder of the importance of following safety protocols. Caron said she is just happy that everyone was safe, and she is taking the experience as a reminder that things are never certain when you travel. The incident highlights the need for airlines and ground crews to follow proper procedures to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members. It also raises questions about the compensation and support provided to passengers in such situations, and the need for more transparency and accountability in the aviation industry.
