Woman wakes up in a complete panic after realizing she’s locked inside a dark and empty commercial airplane
On a late June night in 2019, Tiffani O’Brien’s routine Air Canada flight turned into something like the “28 Days Later” intro scene. O’Brien, traveling from Quebec City to Toronto, woke up hours after her plane landed. She was still strapped into her seat in pitch darkness, utterly alone.
The flight, which was sparsely filled, had been uneventful until O’Brien dozed off mid-flight. She woke up around midnight to find herself in a freezing cabin with no power and no sign of the crew. O’Brien shared her ordeal through a friend’s Facebook post, describing her rising panic. “I’m trying to focus on my breathing and control my panic attack while I attempt to charge my phone,” she wrote, but the aircraft’s power was completely off.
O’Brien searched the plane for a way to get help. She eventually found a flashlight, which she used to signal for assistance. After managing to open the main cabin door, she realized she was still 40 to 50 feet above the ground. Desperate, she dangled her legs out of the plane, waving the flashlight until a luggage cart operator spotted her.
The stunned ground crew helped O’Brien down with a ladder.
Air Canada representatives quickly arrived, offering her a hotel and a limo ride. She declined, wanting only to go home after the harrowing experience.
In a statement to People, Air Canada said they were “reviewing this matter” and promised to remain in contact with O’Brien. The airline assured that procedures were in place to prevent such incidents, sparking questions about how this oversight could happen.
Planes, when not in use, are usually parked and secured at the airport or sent to hangars for maintenance. Crew members are responsible for ensuring the cabin is clear before shutting down the aircraft. Somehow, O’Brien was overlooked during these checks.
The incident left O’Brien shaken. She reported recurring night terrors and anxiety, stating she was “terrified” by the experience. As of the time of reporting, Air Canada continued its investigation into how this unusual and, well, deeply unsettling event could occur.
