What started as a regular Air India Express flight from Muscat to Mumbai turned into a unusual experience for a Thai national travelling with her young daughter. Somewhere over Indian airspace in the early hours of the morning, the woman went into labour, thousands of feet above the ground.
With no doctor on board, the situation could have become critical. But fate had other plans. A nurse, who was travelling as a fellow passenger, stepped up to help. She, along with the well-trained crew, assisted in delivering a healthy baby boy mid-flight.
Crew’s Swift Action And Emergency Response Ensure Safe Delivery
The Air India Express cabin crew sprang into action the moment the Thai national went into labour mid-air. Demonstrating calm precision and compassion, they swiftly rearranged seats to create a makeshift delivery area, ensured the mother’s privacy, and requested passengers not to film the sensitive moment. With no doctor onboard, a nurse travelling as a passenger volunteered to assist, and together they safely delivered a baby boy at 35,000 feet. Meanwhile, the pilots alerted Air Traffic Control and secured a priority landing in Mumbai. By the time the flight touched down at 4:02 AM IST, medical teams and an ambulance were on standby. The mother and newborn were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, accompanied by a female airline staff member for added support.
Air India Express, in a media statement, said that “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 birth.”
Air India Express In Touch With Thai Authorities
Air India Express later confirmed that it is in contact with the Consulate General of Thailand in Mumbai to assist the mother and her newborn with arrangements for their safe journey home.
This rare mid-air delivery is a testament to human spirit, courage, and teamwork, showing how even the skies can bring people together in extraordinary ways.
