A flight within Canada was cancelled after a young child refused to wear a seatbelt before takeoff. The event has started a big online debate about safety rules and travelling with children.
On August 6, a Porter Airlines plane was getting ready to fly from Victoria to Toronto. However, a small child stood in their seat and would not fasten their seatbelt. The child looked scared and tried to hide under the seat. The parent and the flight crew tried to help, but they could not get the child to keep the seatbelt on.
Airline safety rules say that a plane cannot take off if passengers are not safely secured. The pilot decided to return to the airport terminal. By the time the plane returned, it was too late to leave before the airport's runway closed at midnight. The airline had to cancel the flight, and passengers were moved to a flight the next day.
Child aviation safety experts said that the crew made the right decision. Passengers without seatbelts can be thrown around the cabin during turbulence, takeoff, or landing. This can put everyone on board at risk.
The cancellation has divided public opinion. Some people feel airlines should strictly enforce rules for everyone's safety. Others believe airlines and passengers should show more understanding to parents travelling with frightened young children.