We’ve all heard the heart-stopping stories of babies who were born in mid-air and just last Sunday (14 August 2016), the crew of Cebu Pacific’s flight FJ015 experienced the airline’s first air-born baby when baby girl Haven was born roughly four hours after the plane’s departure from Dubai International Airport.
The cabin crew, along with two registered nurses who happened to be passengers on the flight, assisted with the delivery. The flight had to be diverted to Hyderabad, India so that both mother and baby (who was born prematurely at 32 weeks) could receive medical assistance.
Credit: Facebook/Missy Berberabe Umandal
To celebrate this momentous occasion, Cebu Pacific awarded Baby Haven one million GetGo (the airline’s lifestyle rewards program) points which she can use to fly with the airline. Not quite a lifetime of free flights but at least the points have no expiry and may be shared with her family.
In this story we highlight the stories of three other babies that were born on a plane in the past year.
1. 7th October 2015 – From Taiwan to Los Angeles
On a long haul flight from Taiwan to Los Angeles, a women who was reportedly seven months pregnant went into labour and gave birth to a baby girl. Fortunately for her, UCLA resident physician Angelica Zen was on board to help deliver the baby. The little girl was born approximately 30 minutes before the plane touched down in Anchorage, Alaska, where the pilots were told to divert the plane to when the mother went into labour.
2. 22nd April 2016 – From Singapore to Yangon, Myanmar
Credit: Facebook/Jetstar Asia
This little cutie was born onboard Jetstar flight 3K583 from Singapore to Yangon, Myanmar, with the help of three doctors who were on the flight. To commemorate the occasion of being the first baby to be born on board a Jetstar flight, Jetstar offered the family $1000 worth of baby supplies. The best part: the mother decided to name the baby boy Saw Jet Star because of the excellent care she received from the Jetstar crew.
3. 15th June 2016 – From Saudi Arabia to New York
Credit: Facebook/Gulf Insider
While flying over Northern Ireland, a woman joined the exclusive club of women who have given birth mid-flight. The Saudi national gave birth to a happy, healthy baby girl on the flight that was en route from New York to Jeddah. As a result of this surprise, the pilots were instructed to turn around and make an emergency landing at London’s Heathrow airport so as not to risk the health of the baby and mummy by travelling across the Atlantic.
Pregnant but keen to travel? Read our story on airline rules and what to look out for if you’re getting on a plane while expecting a baby here.
