WestJet flight diverted to Waterloo Region airport, passengers stuck onboard for hours

A WestJet flight wasn’t able to land in Toronto due to fog , leaving passengers stuck on board for hours. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte explains.

Passengers faced an unexpected and frustrating delay early Thursday morning after a WestJet flight from Cancun was diverted to the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) due to fog at Toronto Pearson.

The flight landed shortly after 1:15 a.m., but travellers were stuck at YKF for roughly eight-and-a-half hours while officials arranged for customs clearance at the airport, which was not staffed overnight. For the majority of that time, travellers were forced to stay onboard.

Chants of “let us off” and the sound of crying children filled the cabin as frustration grew among passengers waiting for answers.

Trevor Lester of Orillia, Ont., who was travelling home with a group, said the situation unfolded as the plane approached Toronto.

“We were approaching the Toronto airport, very foggy. And all of a sudden we’re doing left and right turns and going around the airport,” he said.

Passengers soon realized something unusual was happening.

“Then literally the pilot just says, ‘I’m really sorry to have to do this. We can’t really comment why. We’re going to have to take a detour and land in Kitchener.’”

The aircraft touched down at the Region of Waterloo International Airport with assistance from Toronto-based air traffic controllers, since the Waterloo Region control tower typically operates until 11 p.m.

In a statement to CTV News, WestJet confirmed the diversion was caused by reduced visibility due to fog at Toronto Pearson.

“As the flight arrived from an international destination, customs clearance was required. All guests and crew were required to remain on board while arrangements were made,” the airline said.

Passengers said the delay was particularly difficult for families travelling with young children.

“In the middle of the night, they were crying. You know, we felt so much empathy for these kids,” Lester said.

Travellers said they were not provided food during the wait, but were eventually given water as the hours passed.

Once customs officers arrived, passengers disembarked, cleared Canadian customs, retrieved their luggage and then boarded the aircraft again for the short flight to Toronto.

After about eight-and-a-half hours on the ground in Waterloo Region, the plane landed in Toronto around 10:10 a.m. Thursday.

The lengthy delay meant many travellers were still trying to get home well into the day.

“We all work. But we didn’t think it was going to take 14 hours coming home from Cancun,” Lester said while travelling back to Orillia.

There was also brief concern among some passengers who had purchased duty-free items in Cancun. Travellers were initially told those purchases could not be brought back onto the plane, but were later allowed to keep them.

For many passengers, the decision came as welcome news after a long and exhausting journey home — with some suggesting those duty-free purchases might be opened sooner rather than later.