An investigation is underway after a ground crew member was inadvertently trapped inside the cargo hold of an Air Canada aircraft as it prepared to depart Toronto Pearson International Airport last month.
According to Air Canada, the incident occurred on Dec. 13 aboard Flight AC1502 from Toronto to Moncton, N.B. The airline said the aircraft’s cargo doors were “inadvertently closed while a member of the ground crew was inside.” Once the situation was discovered, the plane returned to the gate and the doors were reopened. The worker was released safely and no injuries were reported.
Social media posts and passenger accounts indicate that those on board heard banging and screaming from beneath the cabin floor as the aircraft began taxiing. Passengers alerted flight attendants, prompting the crew to investigate.
John Gradek, a faculty lecturer in supply networks and aviation management at McGill University, said such incidents are rare but not unheard of.
“It usually happens about once or twice a year somewhere around the world,” Gradek said. “When it does, it points to a failure in procedures — whether by the airline, the airport, or third-party ground-handling agencies — all of which are governed by very strict policies.”
Gradek explained that ground crew members sometimes need to enter cargo holds to load baggage, making careful supervision essential.
“The individual would have been screaming at the top of their lungs and banging on the ceiling of the cargo hold — which is essentially the floor of the cabin — to be heard over the noise of a taxiing aircraft,” he said. “I would expect it was a traumatic experience for passengers as well.”
A video circulating online captured the pilot addressing passengers about the delay.
“I’ve never had that in my life — first time, hopefully first and last,” the pilot can be heard saying. “The good news is that the person is fine and safe.”
Passengers are heard laughing and applauding after being told the crew member was unharmed.
Keith Mackey, a retired airline captain and aviation safety consultant, said the aircraft involved — operated under Air Canada Rouge — has a pressurized and heated cargo compartment.
“It wouldn’t be a fun ride and it would be dark,” Mackey said, “but the person isn’t going to die simply from being in the baggage compartment on that type of aircraft.”
However, aviation experts caution that similar incidents elsewhere have had far more serious consequences. Gradek pointed to a 2025 case involving Turkish Airlines in which a baggage handler was reportedly trapped for an extended period at high altitude, exposing them to extreme cold and nearly resulting in the loss of both legs to frostbite.
Gradek said responsibility typically rests with the lead station attendant, whose role includes accounting for all ground crew before cargo doors are closed.
“You train people to do the job the way it’s supposed to be done,” he said.
Air Canada confirmed that Flight AC1502 was ultimately cancelled due to operational changes following the incident. The airline said an investigation is ongoing.
Gradek added that the review should be conducted by an independent third party and made public to ensure accountability.
“This was a failure in work practices and in managing safety around an aircraft,” he said. “It should be thoroughly investigated.”