An Air Canada flight made a nerve-jangling return to the gate after a ground crew member got trapped under the plane during taxiing, the airline has confirmed.
Mid-Taxi Madness at Toronto Airport
The drama unfolded on December 13, 2025, aboard Flight AC1502 from Toronto Pearson to Moncton, New Brunswick. Air Canada revealed the plane’s cargo door was slammed shut with a baggage handler still inside.
The plane had already begun taxiing when the horrifying error was discovered. The jet promptly rolled back to the gate. Luckily, no one was hurt.
“Upon discovery, the aircraft returned to the gate. There were no injuries, but as this presented a potential safety issue, we have reinforced our procedures with our ground crews.” – Air Canada statement
Passenger Video Exposes Frightening Moment
Weeks later, a passenger posted gripping footage on Instagram capturing the fear onboard. The clip shows the plane stopped with crew clustered near the cargo hold.
A voiceover explains what passengers were told and confirms the worker’s lucky escape.
“We had already started taxiing when a baggage crew member was under the aircraft in the cargo and could be heard yelling for help and banging underneath us. Thankfully, he got out safely. I still can’t believe this happened.” – Passenger Instagram post
The flight never left Toronto. The pilot reassured nervous passengers:
“I’ve never had that happen in my life. Hopefully it’s the first and last. The good news is that the person is perfectly fine and safe.” – Flight AC1502 pilot
Air Canada Tightens Safety Rules
In response, Air Canada has overhauled ground-handling procedures to avoid a repeat of this nightmare. The airline has stayed mum on how long the worker was trapped or how the mishap happened.
This close call puts a glaring spotlight on airport safety and the vital role of ground crew vigilance. One slip, and disaster waits in the wings.
