In late 2025, Transport Canada was alerted by a flight attendant to the risks of WestJet's reconfigured planes, calling them a hazard, according to documents obtained by CBC News. The five-page safety hazard report — written by the Calgary-based employee and uncovered through an Access to Information request — was submitted to the federal department weeks before a video taken on Dec. 26, 2025, went viral. Only then, was he able to stand by himself and exit the row, the flight attendant wrote. On Dec. 30, Transport Canada responded to the sender, saying it had followed up with WestJet about the concerns raised. Response to complainant not uncommonKamaal Zaidi, an assistant law professor at the University of Calgary, said how often crew members file reports to Transport Canada depends on the nature of the complaint.

Source: CBC News March 28, 2026 11:36 UTC