14-year-old removed from flight over weight imbalance issue
A Canadian airline, Porter Airlines, has come under fire after removing a 14-year-old unaccompanied minor from a flight due to a weight imbalance issue, leaving her stranded at the airport. Camryn Larkan was flying alone from Toronto to Victoria on August 30 when she was unexpectedly asked to deplane. Confused and anxious, she thought she would return to her seat but realized something was wrong when the plane’s doors closed without her onboard.
No assistance was provided to the minor after deplaning
Porter Airlines did not provide immediate assistance to Camryn after the incident. She was left to navigate the situation on her own until her father, who had dropped her off at the airport, came to pick her up. Her mother, Catherine, expressed outrage, accusing the airline of negligence and endangering her child. “They put my child in imminent danger,” she told CBC.
Porter Airlines claims unawareness of unaccompanied minor status
Porter Airlines responded by claiming they were unaware Camryn was an unaccompanied minor. Robyn van Teunenbroek, an airline spokesperson, said that passengers were selected to leave the flight based on fare type when no one volunteered, and it was not known that Camryn was a minor at the time.
Unaccompanied minor service not purchased by family
Porter Airlines offers an “unaccompanied minor service” for passengers between the ages of 8 and 17, which includes supervision and an exemption from involuntary deplaning. However, Camryn’s family had not purchased this service. The airline emphasized that the service is optional for passengers aged 12-17, leaving the decision to the discretion of the family.
Camryn’s mother was outraged after learning about the unaccompanied minor service, criticizing the airline for treating minors without the service as any other adult passenger. She called the situation “absolutely ludicrous,” highlighting the risks posed to her daughter and others in similar circumstances.