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Paramedic, flight crew members help deliver baby on airplane

The crew was aided by a paramedic among the passengers; the baby was gifted free flights for life

By Bryant-Jon Anteola
Fresno Bee

MUMBAI — A baby who was born on a Jet Airways flight Sunday will be given free plane tickets for life.

The mother, whose identity wasn’t revealed by the airline out of respect for her privacy, went into labor prematurely on Sunday at an altitude of 35,000 feet, Jet Airways said to CNN.

Jet Airways is the second largest airline in India and based in Mumbai.

CNN reports that the mother gave birth to a boy while on a flight between Saudi Arabia and India.

Flight crew members helped deliver the baby, aided by a paramedic who was among the passengers.

Originally bound for the southern Indian city of Kochi, the flight was diverted to Mumbai, where the mother and baby were taken to a local hospital and are now “doing well,” an airline spokeswoman said.

“Jet Airways commends its crew for their response and promptness that saw them successfully translate their training into life-saving action,” the spokeswoman said.

Inflight births are rare but have been known to happen.

Being born on a plane, though, does not guarantee free air travel for life for all – despite a common belief that it does.

Jet Airways joins about half a dozen airlines to have granted that privilege, including Thai Airways and AirAsia.

The airlines based in the United States are a bit more strict when it comes to traveling while pregnant.

American Airlines, for example, requires those pregnant for 28 weeks to carry a certificate from a doctor or midwife confirming the estimated date of delivery and that there are no complications with the pregnancy.

United Airlines states that a woman traveling at or after 36 weeks of pregnancy must have the original and two copies of an obstetrician’s certificate, which must be dated within three days (72 hours) prior to her flight departure.

Any woman traveling before 36 weeks of pregnancy on a United flight, however, will be allowed to travel without medical documentation.

The baby born on the Jet Airways flight, by the way, will have a plethora of flights to choose from at some point.

Jet Airways flies to 65 domestic and international destinations.

Copyright 2017 Fresno Bee

Meet our super Cabin Crew, who helped deliver a new life on board!https://t.co/WjEdL9BPbz pic.twitter.com/McrxwhW4vx

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