In a surprising event, a Turkish Airlines flight crew found themselves with an extra passenger on their plane. Yes, the unexpected passenger, a baby girl was born at 42,000ft (12,800m) when a woman went into ʟᴀʙᴏᴜʀ mid-flight.
The mother, then a 28-week-old pregnant traveller was flying with Turkish Airlines’ TK538 Conakry (Guinea)-Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) flight. Shortly after the plane took off she was suffering in pain. The crew members noticed her and understood she was in early labour.
The cabin crew promptly responded and assist her during childbirth in the flight. The mother, Nafi Diaby, was laid across a row of seats and the stewardesses sprang into action to make it as comfortable as they could. They were able to successfully deliver the baby girl, who was named Kadiju, as the mother laid across a row of seats.
“The mother gave birth while standing, and we received help from several other passengers,” said Bouthayna Inanır, one of the flight attendants who helped Nafi with the birth.
“The lady was in great pain,” cabin attendant Bouthayna Inanir add. “And then the baby was on the seat. This was the hardest part. I had to grab the baby. I took her and give her to the mother.”
After the successfull birth, the plane landed the plane landed routinely in Ouagadougou, where the mother and baby were immediately taken to the ʜᴏsᴘɪᴛᴀʟ to be observed by medics. Both are said to be in good health.
The airline shared the happy news on Twitter Friday, showing pictures of the flight attendants posing with the baby wrapped in a grey blanket.
“Welcome on board Princess!” Turkish Airlines captioned a collage of photo on Twitter, including a graphic of a plane acting as a stork to deliver a baby girl. “Applause goes to our cabin crew!”
Per its website, Turkish Airlines permits ᴘʀᴇɢɴᴀɴᴛ passengers to fly up until their 28th week of pregnancy. Any jetsetting past the 28-week mark requires a doctor’s note approving the expectant mother is fit to fly.
