An Ontario couple says they were forced to spend the night sleeping on their suitcase without food or water at a closed airport in Antigua after their Air Canada flight to Toronto was forced to turn back due to a mechanical issue last week.
Leanne and Kirk Paty had traveled to Antigua with friends for a pickleball tournament. Their return flight was originally scheduled for February 13, but Air Canada notified them the day before that it would be delayed due to a mechanical issue on an earlier flight. After receiving three more delay notices, the couple was finally preparing to board when the pilot made an unexpected announcement.
“The pilot said a vehicle on the tarmac had hit the side of the plane, scratching the paint, and they were assessing the damage,” Leanne recalled. After the aircraft was cleared for flight, passengers boarded, but the Patys immediately sensed something was wrong.
“The whole time we were in the air, it felt like we weren’t climbing. We started to get worried,” Leanne said. Although the pilot initially reassured passengers that everything was fine and the alarm was a false alert, the couple said they could hear an alarm sounding in the background during the announcement.
About ten minutes later, the pilot summoned the flight attendants to the flight deck as the plane circled repeatedly over the ocean. According to FlightAware data, the aircraft circled 11 times over the southwest of the island, remaining airborne for nearly two hours before landing back at V.C. Bird International Airport.
“He landed the plane faster than I’ve ever experienced,” Leanne said.
Air Canada confirmed that the Rouge flight, carrying 113 passengers, returned as a precaution due to a landing gear indication. “The flight landed normally, but the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection,” said spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick.
Stranded Overnight With No Amenities
At around midnight, passengers were informed they would not be provided with overnight accommodations.
“We were brought to the arrivals desk, and that was it—no instructions, no help. Just, ‘You’re here for the night,’” Leanne said.
With the airport closed, passengers found themselves with no access to food or water—not even a vending machine. Only two security officers and a janitor were seen in the empty terminal. Among those stranded were seniors in wheelchairs and families with babies.
Left with no options, the Patys took turns sleeping on their suitcase.
“There were people sleeping all over the place,” Kirk said.
“It was awful,” Leanne added.
Photos taken by the couple showed passengers sleeping on luggage conveyor belts and tiled floors, using clothes as makeshift pillows.
Fitzpatrick explained that the airline tried to find accommodations but was unsuccessful due to high seasonal demand.
Delays Continue the Next Day
The Patys were rebooked on a flight scheduled for the afternoon of February 14. However, that flight was also delayed, with Air Canada initially citing “weather conditions” from an earlier flight. On February 13, Toronto was hit by two major winter storms, dumping over 70 centimeters of snow within days.
By lunchtime, the airline offered some passengers food vouchers that could only be used after passing through security, but there weren’t enough vouchers for everyone. Since the flight wasn’t scheduled until 9:15 p.m., those who used the vouchers had to wait airside for over eight hours.
The Patys finally landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport around 4 a.m. the following day. While they had enjoyed their vacation in Antigua, they were frustrated with Air Canada’s lack of communication and support during the ordeal.
“It was inappropriate to leave passengers to sleep on an airport floor with no food or water,” Leanne said.
Fitzpatrick acknowledged the inconvenience and said Air Canada would offer a goodwill gesture and follow up regarding passengers’ expenses and compensation.
