TORONTO- Air Canada Rouge (RV) faced a major operational disruption after a Toronto departure returned to the gate when screams were heard from the cargo hold. The incident exposed a breakdown in ground safety procedures and led to an overnight cancellation.
The flight was scheduled from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto (YYZ) to Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport, Moncton (YQM). Passenger intervention prevented a potentially life-threatening situation before takeoff.
Air Canada Cargo Hold Screams
On December 13, 2025, Air Canada Rouge flight AC1502 was scheduled to operate from Toronto (YYZ) to Moncton (YQM). The flight was operated by an Airbus A321 registered as C-FJQD.
The 1,210-Km (752-mile) domestic flight was originally scheduled to depart at 2:00 PM and arrive at 5:03 PM local time, accounting for the one-hour time difference. By the time the aircraft began taxiing, the departure was already delayed by approximately five hours.
As the aircraft moved toward the runway, multiple passengers reported hearing loud banging and screaming coming from the cargo hold. They immediately notified cabin crew, and some passengers reportedly called 911 due to concern over the situation.
The flight crew halted taxi operations and returned the aircraft to the gate. Ground personnel then discovered that a baggage handler had become trapped inside the cargo hold before it was closed.
A video later posted online by a passenger captured partial audio of the pilot’s announcement. In it, the pilot explained that this was the first such incident in his career and confirmed that the individual was safely removed and uninjured. According to OMAAT, the return was required to extract the person and complete mandatory documentation.
Passenger reactions in the cabin were mixed, with audible laughter heard in the video following the announcement, an unusual response given the seriousness of the incident.
Delays Compound After Crew Change and Mechanical Issues
The baggage handler was discovered at approximately 7:30 PM local time. About an hour later, passengers were required to deplane due to the need for a crew change, further extending the delay.
Boarding resumed around 10:00 PM. However, at 11:00 PM, passengers were informed of a mechanical issue affecting the aircraft. Shortly after midnight, a replacement aircraft was sourced.
Despite these efforts, the flight was ultimately canceled shortly after 1:00 AM. In total, passengers experienced nearly 11 hours of disruption without reaching their destination.
Why Cargo Hold Incidents Are Especially Dangerous
While aircraft cargo holds are pressurized during flight, they are not designed for human occupancy. Temperatures in the hold can drop significantly, creating serious health risks if exposure is prolonged.
Ground handling procedures are intended to prevent exactly this type of situation, including physical checks and confirmation protocols before cargo doors are sealed. This incident indicates that those safeguards were not followed correctly.
Although rare, similar events have occurred. In March 2025, a Turkish Airlines (TK) baggage handler remained trapped in a cargo hold and was not discovered until after takeoff. That individual later suffered long-term medical complications.
Given that tens of thousands of flights operate daily worldwide, incidents of this nature typically surface no more than once per year. Their rarity does not lessen the severity when they do occur.
Bottom Line
Air Canada Rouge flight AC1502 returned to the gate in Toronto after passengers heard screaming from the cargo hold during taxiing. A baggage handler was found trapped inside and safely removed before departure.
The individual avoided injury due to the timely discovery, but the incident highlights a serious lapse in ground safety procedures. For passengers, the situation resulted in extensive delays and an eventual flight cancellation.
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