Ontario woman tracks her AirPods around the world after losing them on flight
An Ottawa sports reporter was on her way to Italy to cover the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, but her AirPods apparently had other plans.
Claire Hanna was on Air Canada flight AC890 from Toronto to Rome on Feb. 4 when she left her AirPods behind on the plane.
"They fell under the seat. I didn't realize this until I went through customs," Hanna posted on X.
After calling the airline's help desk, Hanna said the crew could not find them on the plane, but, luckily, she was able to track them on her iPhone.
I left my @Apple AirPods on @AirCanada flight AC890 from Toronto to Rome en route to the #MilanoCortina2026 Olympics.
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 4, 2026
They fell under the seat. I didn't realize this until I went through customs 🫠 The AC desk called the plane to search for them and said they couldn’t find… pic.twitter.com/R6iDYAHasm
Shortly after her initial post, which got over a thousand likes and dozens of reposts, Hanna shared an update on the AirPods' newest location: Switzerland.
They’re in Switzerland! 🇨🇭
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 4, 2026
World traveller ☺️ pic.twitter.com/oSGGooXy9d
Hanna's latest update shows her AirPods are approaching her homeland of Ireland.
They’re closing in on Ireland! Lucky 🍀 pic.twitter.com/AoRw98CRYm
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 4, 2026
While some of Hanna's followers joke that a flight attendant likely "stole" the AirPods and kept them for themselves, one user on X points out a simpler, more believable explanation.
For those that think someone stole them. I was on flight where someone dropped their ear buds and they actually fell into a space that would require maintenance to come take the seat off to retrieve them. The flight attendant said it happens often.
— Jess (@jesskrom) February 4, 2026
As Italy prepares for an influx of Olympic-bound travellers this week, the number of flights moving through the country is expected to soar. One report even suggests Italy is expecting a 160 per cent increase in international travellers, mostly from Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.
With more passengers, packed planes, and rushed turnarounds, such travel mishaps — like Hanna's globe-trotting AirPods — are almost bound to happen.
"It's about the journey, not the destination," as Hanna says on X.
Ross Howey Photo/Shutterstock
