By DOHA, Qatar — A Nigerian woman gave birth to a baby girl aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Lagos to Brazil on Saturday, the airline confirmed. The mother, identified on social media as Oyindamola Akinyera, shared her experience in an Instagram post on Wednesday.
Akinyera was traveling with her husband, David, on what she described as their “honeymoon and baby-moon” trip. Despite being cleared for air travel by her doctor, she unexpectedly went into labor during the connecting flight from Doha to Brazil.
“A few hours into the flight and I start having what I thought were regular pregnancy backaches,” Akinyera wrote. Initially dismissing the discomfort as travel-related, she attempted to sleep through it.
As the flight progressed over the Atlantic Ocean, Akinyera’s condition rapidly changed. “Next thing, I take one big push and I pee instead—or so I thought. My water had broken. I didn’t even realize I was in labor,” she recounted.
The Qatar Airways cabin crew quickly responded to the situation, setting up an impromptu birthing station at the entrance of the plane. A fellow passenger, identified only as Dr. Carolina, volunteered her services as an obstetrician.
“Dr. Carolina checks me, tells me I’m fully dilated, and the baby is ready to come. At this point, we’re in Brazilian airspace and about 40 minutes from landing,” Akinyera explained.
With her husband by her side praying and offering encouragement, Akinyera gave birth to a baby girl approximately 20 minutes before the flight landed in Brazil. Both mother and child were immediately taken to a hospital upon arrival, where they were reported to be in good health.
This incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with air travel during pregnancy. While many airlines allow pregnant women to fly up to 36 weeks gestation with medical clearance, unexpected births can still occur.
Qatar Airways, like most international carriers, has protocols in place for in-flight medical emergencies, including births. Cabin crew receive training to handle such situations, often relying on the assistance of medical professionals who may be among the passengers.
The successful delivery underscores the importance of preparedness and quick thinking in emergency situations. The collaboration between the cabin crew, the volunteer doctor, and the parents ensured a positive outcome in what could have been a dangerous situation.
While in-flight births are rare, they do occur occasionally. In such cases, the child’s citizenship can become a complex issue, potentially determined by factors such as the parents’ nationalities, the country where the plane is registered, and the airspace in which the birth occurred.
Akinyera expressed gratitude for the support she received during the unexpected delivery. “I had a supernatural birth, and it’s all thanks to God Almighty,” she wrote, praising the Qatar Airways crew for their assistance.
