While on a Jet Airways flight from India to Saudi Arabia [1] on June 18, a 30-weeks pregnant woman suddenly went into labor. Moments before the rerouted plane landed in Mumbai, the expecting mother gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
When Cicymol Jose alerted the Jet Airways crew that she was going into labor, flight attendants were able to locate a passenger who was a paramedic. Together, they all helped deliver Cicymol's baby safely just before the plane landed. "The baby was born around 8:45 a.m., while the flight landed at Mumbai at 9:12," an airport source told The Times of India. Upon landing, the mother and her newborn were transported to the nearest hospital.
The exciting birth story doesn't end there: the Indian airline has since gifted the baby a lifetime supply of air travel. Jet Airways also praised the crew for "their response and promptness that saw them successfully translate their training into life-saving action."
Though some expecting mothers avoid air travel during their third trimester, Jet Airways does allow women to fly up to 32 weeks into their pregnancy [3] with the appropriate medical clearance. Even pregnant women at 38 weeks are able to fly so long as they have had an uncomplicated pregnancy. After the 38-week mark, however, the airline will not allow pregnant women to travel.