It was probably not in his birth plan. Last Saturday, on Caribbean Airlines flight 005 coming from Jamaica and approaching New York, a young woman went into labor. And his son arrived faster than expected.
It should be called Kennedy, like the airport
Fortunately for the mother and child, everything seemed to have gone normally and with a happy outcome, both on the plane and on the ground, where a medical team was waiting for the duo.
In a press release, Caribbean Airlines welcomed: “The company commends the professionalism and measured response of its crew, who handled the situation in accordance with established procedures, ensuring the safety and comfort of all on board.”
The only difference with an “ordinary” birth is that the mother may not have much choice in the name. According to a ground controller, the child must have been named “Kennedy”because the flight had landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. A beautiful tribute for a rare moment.
Mid-flight birth: how does it happen?
However, childbirth at 20,000 feet remains rare. A March 2020 study from the National Library of Medicine indicates that from 1929 to 2018, 74 infants were born during 73 commercial flights.
The reason? Most companies advise against, and sometimes prohibit, flying beyond the second trimester, precisely to avoid any complications. “The last birth at Air France was several years ago.” admits for True Medical Dr. Vincent Feuillie, Air France’s Medical Advisor.
But if work begins, a procedure is put in place.
“What you need to know is that our cabin crew are trained in first aid. Each hostess or steward is required to have this diploma. They have mandatory first aid training and they have refresher training every year which is provided by the airlines. As well as a manual adapted to all possible situations in flight.”
In this context, childbirth is one of the events that need to be managed. “I would even tell you that in the equipment that is on board our planes, we have the Bar clamp, which is the small pliers that are used to tighten the umbilical cord and then be able to cut it.
Is it riskier to give birth on a plane than on land?
But what happens in the event of a complication? The doctor reassures: “At Air France, there is already the Paris Samu which can regulate our flights, help with medical monitoring. In this context, we will obviously also alert the arrival stopover to warn of the event and take care of the family.”
But for the medical advisor, in reality, the risk is not really in the plane. But rather at the end of the line.
“It happens that we land in a place where medical infrastructure is not provided. Where there are problems with social care, in certain countries, where the cost of care can be very high… The complicated side comes more from these parameters.”
More rarely, a change of flight plan may occur in the event of a very serious health emergency. “But I never knew one.” underlines the expert.
What is the official place of birth?
But a question remains. If the child is born within the cabin itself, what is the child’s place of birth? Dr Feuillie tells us some unusual information: “The official place of birth of the child is the place of arrival. And for the record, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport being in several municipalities, it is the parking lot of the plane, the one where it parks, which will determine the municipality of birth of the little baby.”
Free flights for life? A beautiful story… but false
Finally, in the event of birth on a transport, it is not uncommon to hear in return that the child will be entitled to free travel for the rest of his life. “C“is a myth, I don’t know of any company that has decided this” tempers the doctor.
Rewards, official thanks from staff, an exchange, yes… But a free pass to fly for the rest of your life is a legend.