A quick-thinking pilot delivered a baby mid-flight after the mother suddenly went into labour.
Jakarin Sararnrakskul was piloting a VietJet plane from Taipei, Taiwan, to Bangkok, Thailand, when he was told by cabin crew of an emergency on board.
He rushed to the aid of the woman, who was in labour in one of the plane’s toilets.
“I have been a pilot for 18 years. I just helped a newborn baby on the plane,” he said in a post on Instagram, sharing an image of himself holding the baby.
The father-of-one also said the crew had nicknamed the child “Sky Baby”.
According to a 2020 study, published by the International Society of Travel Medicine, 74 children were born on commercial flights between 1929 and 2018, of which all but three survived.
The NHS says most women can travel safely well into their pregnancy, but says they should check with their midwife or doctor before they fly.
The health service says the chance of going into labour is naturally higher after 37 weeks, or around 32 weeks if you are carrying twins, and that some airlines do not allow expectant mothers to fly after these periods.
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“Some airlines won’t let you fly towards the end of your pregnancy. Check with the airline for their policy on this,” the NHS says on its website.
“After week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date, and that you are not at risk of complications.
“Make sure your travel insurance covers you for any eventuality, such as pregnancy-related medical care during labour, premature birth and the cost of changing the date of your return trip if you go into labour.”
