An unusual incident unfolded recently at Toronto’s Pearson Airport involving an Air Canada flight bound for Moncton, New Brunswick. As Flight AC1502 was preparing for takeoff on December 13, a baggage handler found himself trapped in the cargo hold, leading to unexpected drama on the tarmac.

The mishap occurred when the doors of the cargo hold inadvertently closed, sealing the ground crew member inside. The airline later confirmed this sequence of events in a statement to The National Post, shedding light on the startling situation.

As the plane was taxiing, passengers heard screams, Stephanie Cure, a travel blogger, wrote in an Instagram post.

Passengers aboard the flight, including one named Cure, were taken aback by the unfolding events. As the plane started taxiing, they could hear the handler’s desperate cries for help and the banging from below. Cure recounted the experience, noting the unexpected sounds coming from underneath the aircraft.

In a bid to keep passengers informed, an announcement was made during the flight, addressing the unusual situation. Cure captured this moment, sharing that it was a first-time experience for her and expressing hope that it would also be the last. Fortunately, the announcement assured everyone that the trapped individual was unharmed and safe.

This event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel and the importance of stringent safety protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

The plane returned to the gate after discovering the ground member was uninjured in the cargo hold, according to Air Canada’s statement.

The announcement noted that they had to fill out some paperwork before getting on their way, which prompted another passenger to say, ‘They’re gonna fill out an accident report,’ as she laughed.

Flight AC1502 was delayed from taking off from Pearson Airport in Toronto to Moncton after a baggage handler was discovered in the cargo hold (Stock Image) 

Passengers aboard the plane said they heard screaming and banging as the plane began to taxi

Cure added that they never made it to Moncton that day and said the airline attributed delays due to circumstances out of their control.  

Additionally, Gabrielle Caron told CBC that passengers toward the rear of the plane could hear the screams as well, and added that she knew something wasn’t right when airport staff surrounded the plane and flight attendants appeared concerned.

‘We’re noticing the flight attendants are kinda running back and forth in the airplane, and on the ground, we could see the crew gathering around the plane,’ said Caron. ‘So we knew something was happening.’

She added that she was grateful for the outcome and that everyone got home safely, noting that she knew it could have been much worse.

Despite the terrifying circumstances, John Gradek, an aviation industry expert, told CBC that the handler would not have been in danger due to the lack of threat of hypothermia or asphyxiation.

Gradek speculated that investigators will ask questions about the ground crew member’s state of mind and whether they were alert at the time of the incident.

The airline added in its statement to the National Post that it has reinforced its procedures with its ground crews following the potential safety issue.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Air Canada for comment.

Air Canada said in a statement that the baggage handler was unharmed and have reinforced its procedures with its ground crews (Stock Image)

A passenger aboard the plane noted that their flight was later cancelled 

The incident drew online criticism of the airline, with many suggesting safety procedures that could prevent a similar accident.

One user wrote: ‘Radios should be carried by all ramp crew.. I know the Lead always does, but everyone should have a radio for safety reasons.’

Another added: ‘There should be some sort of button in there so the pilots can be alerted. Can’t be all that difficult to engineer.’

A third noted: ‘Happen enough to warrant something like a lock-out tag on the doorway? Go in, put your “don’t close the freaking door” tag on, remove when you leave.’

In April, a judge unleashed on a shirtless baggage handler who was seeking a memento for his last day of work.

Preslie Ginoski’s video of him flexing his biceps and doing push-ups centimetres from the engine fan went viral on TikTok in January.

The bodybuilding fan, 23, pleaded guilty to threatening aviation safety and failing to wear a safety lanyard in Sydney Airport’s security zone as a magistrate slammed him for being stupid, vain and irresponsible.