Passengers aboard an Air Canada flight departing Toronto last month were left shaken after terrifying screams suddenly echoed from beneath the cabin as the aircraft taxied toward the runway.

The incident occurred on Dec. 13 aboard Air Canada Flight 1502, an Airbus aircraft preparing to fly from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Moncton, New Brunswick. The plane, which was carrying 184 passengers, had begun taxiing when passengers near the rear of the cabin reported hearing muffled banging and desperate screams coming from below.

According to local outlet CBC, a ground crew member had become trapped inside the aircraft’s cargo hold after the doors reportedly closed unintentionally while the plane was on the ground.

Passengers said the disturbing noises quickly drew attention, prompting flight attendants to rush toward the back of the aircraft as concern spread through the cabin.
“Some of the people that were sitting towards the back of the plane heard the person screaming and banging, trying to get their attention,” passenger Gabrielle Caron told CBC.

Caron said passengers could see activity outside the aircraft as crew members gathered near the plane, signaling that something was wrong. Shortly afterward, the pilot informed passengers that a member of the ground crew was trapped in the luggage compartment.

The aircraft was stopped before reaching the runway. Moments later, the trapped worker safely exited the cargo hold and entered the cabin, reassuring passengers that he was not injured.

Air Canada confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the incident.

According to Caron, the crew member had been helping load items into the cargo hold as an extra set of hands and may not have been accounted for when the doors were closed.

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