Airline Employee Rescued from Plane After Passengers Hear 'Loud Screaming'

An airline baggage handler was rescued from almost-certain death after passengers heard “screaming” just before takeoff, reported the CBC and Toronto Star.

The terrifying incident occurred on Dec. 13 at Pearson International Airport, in Toronto. Air Canada Flight AC1502 was scheduled to depart Pearson for Moncton, New Brunswick, when passengers reportedly heard “loud banging and screaming” coming from the undercarriage of the aircraft as it taxied down the runway. As several onboard the plane telephoned the police to report the bizarre incident, flight crews investigated and subsequently discovered that a baggage handler had become trapped beneath the plane.

"Some of the people who were sitting towards the back of the plane heard the person screaming and banging, trying to get their attention," passenger Gabrielle Caron told CBC. "We're noticing the flight attendants are kind of running back and forth in the airplane and on the ground, we could see the crew gathering around the plane, so we knew something was happening."

Air Canada Has 'Reinforced' Ground Safety Procedures

Air Canada confirmed to the Toronto Star that the baggage compartment door “inadvertently closed while a member of the ground crew was inside.” The airline confirmed that the employee was let out of the cargo hold, and no injuries were reported from the incident. Air Canada said that, in the month since the “safety lapse,” they’ve “reinforced” ground crew procedures to prevent any future errors.

Passengers Caught Video of the Incident

One quick-witted passenger, who goes by @travel.with.stephy on social media, managed to record the incident on their phone. In the clip, the plane’s pilot can be heard briefing the aircraft on the calamity. “I’ve never had that in my life,” he said. “First time, hopefully first and last. The good news is that the person is fine and safe.”

“They never did get us to Moncton that day,” @travel.with.stephy said, adding a laughing emoji. “And we are now being told this delay was ‘out of the airline’s control.’ 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,” she explained. Thankfully, he got out safely. I still can’t believe this happened.”