A passenger said his bag hadn't showed up 16 days after landing at Toronto airport — and he was asked to check it in just before boarding

• The passenger said he had been waiting 16 days for his bag to show up.

• He said he was asked to check his bag before he boarded.

• There are thousands of bags waiting to be reclaimed at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

A passenger who was asked to check his luggage into the hold shortly before his flight said it hadn't arrived 16 days later.

The man, who was identified only as Dean, told a Canadian news outlet that he landed at Toronto Pearson International airport in June. He said he was told to check his bag at the last moment.

He waited three hours for his bag to show up and when it didn't, he didn't hear anything about his missing luggage.

Dean had not received an update on his luggage despite returning to the airport three times.

I haven't seen my bag since 16 days ago. He said he's looked through the bags over and over again. It has been very frustrating.

There are thousands of bags at the airport.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority said in a statement that flight delays, cancellation, staff shortages, and temporary mechanical issues with the baggage system have caused challenges with baggage.

Insider's request for comment was not immediately responded to by the GTAA.

The airline industry is struggling to cope with a surge in demand.

Business Insider has an article on it.