Miracle at 30,000 ft: Thai woman delivers baby mid-air on Muscat-Mumbai flight; Air India Express crew assists in labour | Mumbai News
MUMBAI: A Thai passenger went into labour on board an Air India Express Muscat-Mumbai flight on Thursday and delivered a boy with the help of the cabin crew. There was no doctor on board among the passengers. Upon landing in the city, the baby and mother were admitted to hospital. Both are in good health.The unscheduled birth has upset the travel plans of the mother, who boarded the Air India Express flight from Muscat with her one-year-old infant to fly to Bangkok via Mumbai, as now as travel documents need to be prepared, topmost being Indian visa for the three. For at least a week now, the trio will have to stay put in Mumbai because of the airline’s age restriction for babies. Also, the newborn will need a passport. The passenger went into labour about 45 minutes before the flight was to land in Mumbai, said a source. Since Mumbai was the closest airport at that time, the flight did not divert. “The moment the Thai national went into labour, the crew responded swiftly, drawing on their rigorous training to ensure a secure and compassionate environment for the birth,” said Air India Express in a media statement. Among the crew who helped with the delivery was senior cabin crew Sneha Naga, along with other flight attendants, Aishwarya Shirke, Asiya Khalid, and Muskan Chauhan. The flight was piloted by Capt Ashish Vaghani and Capt Faraz Ahmed.“The pilots alerted the air traffic control to request priority landing at Mumbai, where medical teams and an ambulance were ready on arrival. Upon touchdown, both mother and baby were immediately transferred to a nearby hospital for further care, accompanied by a female airline staff member to provide continued support,” it said, adding that Air India Express is in touch with the Consulate General of Thailand in Mumbai to support the passenger’s onward journey to their home country.
