In one of the most incredible birth stories ever, a woman had her baby while flying over the Atlantic Ocean on a United Airlines flight. The plane took off from Ghana and was headed to the United States.
About halfway through the Washington, DC-bound flight, the woman's labor began to kick off. Luckily, some very helpful people were on board. A physician, a nurse, and a United flight attendant who used to be a nurse all joined together to help the mom birth her baby safely.
"Our crew was amazing," United wrote in a statement to CNN Travel about the shocking delivery. "They acted quickly, assisted the medical professionals onboard and ensured everyone stayed safe throughout the flight.
"And we were especially thrilled to see the plane land with one extra, especially beautiful, customer onboard."
While it was likely worrisome for the mom to spontaneously go into labor mid-flight, it's also pretty much the most exciting thing that can happen on a plane! Mom and baby were just fine, and airport paramedics met the flight upon its arrival in the United States on Sunday, January 30.
One woman on the flight opened up about what it was like to witness the birth. Tiani Warren of Los Angeles said that the laboring woman was in the row behind her and separated by the emergency exits. "I was asleep. … I thought I was dreaming when I heard moaning," Warren said. "I got out of my seat, and I saw someone on the ground. A nurse was over her."
When she realized what was happening, she was worried. "I thought, 'Oh God, I know she is not about to give birth on this plane. I was literally counting her contractions — seven to 10 minutes apart. I was, like, freaking out. Oh, my God."
"Then the doctor started working on her. They brought out an IV to put in her," Warren said. "She was moaning and yelling, but half the people on the plane didn't know what was going on."
To make a stressful birth even more turbulent, the plane encountered actual turbulence during the delivery. "I just started praying over her out loud as she was starting to push," Warren said. "She was crying. Before you knew it, the baby came out."
The event was clearly really moving for the witness, who summed it up in a touching Instagram video. "I am stressed out, I'm excited. I'm tired. All in one," she said. "But the baby is a boy. It's beautiful. It was a little sketchy at first, but God is good. This is unreal. … I'm in shock right now. This is crazy."
