Giving Birth on Board: U.S. Pregnant Woman Delivers Baby 30 Minutes Before Landing, Umbilical Cord Tied with Shoelace

Gave Birth to 2.5kg Baby With Help From Emergency Responders

A story about a pregnant woman in the United States who gave birth to a baby during a flight of about five hours has garnered significant attention.

According to AP News and The Sun on April 28 (local time), Ashley Blair, who was on board a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland, Oregon, safely delivered her baby with the help of emergency responders present on the plane. It was reported that Blair, who was about two weeks away from her due date, boarded the flight on the afternoon of the 24th to visit her mother.

Baby born on board the plane. Photo by AP Yonhap News

The flight proceeded smoothly at first, but about 30 minutes before landing, Blair suddenly went into labor, creating an urgent situation. The flight attendants immediately requested help from two emergency responders who were also on board. These responders were returning home from a vacation in the Dominican Republic and, at the time, had been assisting a nurse who was caring for another passenger on the plane.

The emergency responders determined that Blair's delivery was imminent and requested a sterile kit and other necessary supplies for childbirth. However, due to the lack of sufficient equipment on board, they secured space by moving nearby passengers and began emergency treatment.

They assisted with the delivery using only limited items such as blankets and shoelaces, tying off the umbilical cord with a shoelace and performing other improvised measures to ensure a safe birth. Blair gave birth to a baby girl weighing approximately 2.5 kilograms, who was named Brielle Renee.

Tina Fritz, one of the emergency responders who assisted with the delivery, said, "The baby looked very healthy when she was born, and the mother received a big round of applause from everyone on board. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Other passengers who witnessed the event also expressed their amazement. Jess Cushionberry, a passenger from Atlanta who was traveling with her daughter, said, "At first, I had no idea what was happening, but when I heard a baby was being born, I was amazed." She continued, "Having experienced childbirth myself, I know how challenging it is, but the mother remained very calm. The flight attendants also handled the situation calmly and reassured the passengers."

The Portland airport authorities told AP News via email that "the mother and baby were transported to a local hospital for examination immediately after landing," adding that both were in good health. Delta Air Lines expressed deep gratitude to the emergency responders and flight attendants who assisted with the birth and wished good health to both the mother and the baby in an official statement.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.