Air Canada passenger wakes up alone on 'cold, dark' parked plane

Jun 24 2019, 8:31 pm

Air Canada says it’s looking into how a passenger woke up alone on a “cold, dark plane” earlier this month.

After flying from Quebec to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Tiffani Adams woke up from a mid-flight sleep only to realize she was locked inside and alone in the pitch-black aircraft.

Adams said she woke up after her 1.5-hour flight to several text messages from her friend, Deanna Noel-Dale, who was concerned that she had yet to hear from Adams after her flight.

“I wake up around midnight (few hours after flight landed) freezing cold still strapped in my seat in complete darkness (I’m talking pitch black),” Adams recounted in a June 19 Facebook post sent by her friend, Noel-Dale.

“As someone with an [sic] anxiety disorder as is, I can tell you how terrifying this was…I think I’m having a bad dream because [sic] like seriously how is this happening!?” wrote Adams.

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After briefly replying to her friend from the dark plane, Adams’ phone died. First, she tried to charge her phone with a USB port, only to realize the plane had no power.

Eventually, Adams made her way to the cockpit, where she tried to use the radio to call for help, which she discovered also didn’t work without power.

Luckily she was able to locate a flashlight, so she began making ‘SOS’ signals out the window, hoping someone would see her.

“Finally, now that I have light, I’m determined to unlock the door and save myself,” wrote Adams.

After opening the plane’s main door, she was able to get the ground crews attention, who Adams said was “in shock” when they saw her dangling from the plane.

Adams said an Air Canada representative offered her a limo and a hotel room after being rescued, however, she declined the offer because all she wanted was “to go home.”

Following the incident, Adams said Air Canada reached out to her to apologize for the inconvenience and said they will be doing an investigation.

Unfortunately, Adams is still trying to recover from the stressful situation.

“I haven’t got much sleep since the reoccurring night terrors and waking up anxious and afraid I’m alone locked up someplace dark.”

Air Canada said in a Facebook response to the post that it was surprised to hear the story and “very concerned,” asking Adams to send a private message with her flight details.

“We’ll take a look into it,” the airline wrote.

Air Canada/Facebook

Daily Hive reached out to Air Canada for comment but had yet to hear back at the time of publication. 

You can read the full Facebook post here:

Ainsley SmithAinsley Smith

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