In a saga that has reignited the eternal debate over parenting, plane etiquette, and whether kids should be seen and not heard (or strapped in), a Porter Airlines flight from Victoria to Toronto was unceremoniously cancelled on 6 August after a young passenger decided that seat belts were for lesser beings.

The airline explained that the child was standing in their seat and refusing to buckle up, and despite valiant attempts by the accompanying parent and crew, the tiny rebel would not comply. The aircraft, apparently not willing to risk a mid-air game of dodgeball with an unrestrained projectile, returned to the terminal. Unfortunately, the delay meant the runway closed at midnight, forcing all passengers to rebook for the next day. Because nothing says 'family-friendly travel' like a collective sigh of resignation.

Child aviation safety expert Lia Tuso backed the crew's decision, noting that 'unrestrained children can become projectiles' - a phrase that should be on a t-shirt. Indeed, in the event of turbulence, a loose child is about as safe as a flying suitcase, and we all know how much we love those during takeoff.

Naturally, the internet has weighed in with the subtlety of a jet engine. Some, like Fox News co-host Charles Hurt, suggested that physical discipline might have been in order, declaring, 'We've all been those parents. But this is beyond the pale.' Others pointed out that the child might have simply been scared of flying, not acting out of malicious intent. Passenger Aryeh Kozuch told CBC News that the child 'just kept hiding under their seat' and seemed frightened, not unruly.

And then there are those who question why the entire flight had to be disrupted for one small human. This is not an unprecedented move. In 2018, a father and daughter were ejected from a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Atlanta after the child had reportedly calmed down from a tantrum and had been sitting quietly for over five minutes. Southwest claimed 'a conversation escalated onboard.' In 2012, a family kicked off a JetBlue flight went on NBC's Today Show to accuse the airline of lacking 'humanity.' JetBlue countered that the customers didn't comply with crew instructions and the captain acted 'for the safety of all customers and crew members.'

Meanwhile, Porter Airlines stands by its decision, and the debate rages on: Are airlines being overly cautious, or are they just trying to keep everyone from becoming human cannonballs? One thing's for sure - if you're a kid with a seat belt phobia, you might want to consider a road trip.