(Image source from: The Portland Press Herald)

A woman passenger of Air Canada experienced a dreadful episode when she found herself left alone on a cold and dark plane after falling asleep during a domestic flight and unnoticed by the ground staff.

The incident has forced the flag carrier to investigate the occurrence.

Tiffani Louise O’Brien said she fell asleep while flying from Quebec to Toronto on June 9. When she woke up, she was bitterly cold and still fastened into her seat and the aircraft was parked after the 90-minute long air travel.

O’Brien’s terrifying experience was posted by a friend Deanna Noel-Dale on Air Canada's Facebook page, drawing over 600 reactions.

Air Canada has confirmed the terrific incident that took place and is investigating.

(Image Source: CTV News)

O’Brien said on Facebook that she woke up around midnight amidst freezing cold still trapped in her seat in complete darkness, a few hours after the flight landed at the Pearson Airport. She said the experience was "terrifying".

O’Brien managed to call her friend Noel-Dale to let her know where she was when her phone died less than a minute into the call. She was unable to charge her phone as the aircraft had been shut down.

(Image Source: CTV Winnipeg - CTV News)  

Noel-Dale called airport authorities in Toronto and told them of O’Brien’ whereabouts. While she was on board, O’Brien managed to locate a torch in the cockpit and attempted to attract attention. She was noticed by a luggage cart operator who she claimed was "in shock".

"I am literally dangling my legs out the plane... He is asking how the heck they left me on the plane... I'm wondering the same," said O’Brien.

"Anyway the guy had the ladder dock and I jumped to safety before he was even a foot from the door," Toronto Sun quoted her as saying.

"I haven't got much sleep since the reoccurring night terrors and waking up anxious and afraid I'm alone locked up someplace dark," O’Brien says.

She said that Air Canada staff offered her a limousine and a hotel but she declined, wanting to return home as quickly as possible. She said that representatives from Air Canada had called her twice as part of the investigation and apologized.

Air Canada has confirmed O’Brien’ account and said it was reviewing the incident, according to Canadian media reports.

By Sowmya Sangam