What happens when you give birth on a plane?

There are no official figures, but around 60 babies are born on planes each year. It's not the delivery room most expectant mothers dream of, but there are rare cases.

Giving birth on a plane and what you need to know

The crew decides whether an emergency landing is necessary.

Although most airlines now place limits on how far pregnant women can fly, usually no later than 38 weeks or 30 days before their due date and confirmed with a doctor's notice, there are still cases where labor unexpectedly occurs.

Although it is rare, if it happens and a woman goes into labor, the crew doesn't have many options. First of all, flight attendants aren't trained to deliver babies. So at that point, everyone will hope that there is a doctor or nurse on board.

Laura Einstetler, a pilot for a major US airline, said an emergency landing in these circumstances was not feasible. She said: 'It would take at least 45 minutes to get a passenger from 37,000 feet to a hospital. This option would inconvenience other passengers, cost the airline money and disrupt the aircraft's schedule. Instead, the crew would act as special midwives .'

Flight attendants will act as midwives and deliver babies if there are no medical professionals on board.

There is no rule that applies to the citizenship of a baby.

While the rules are not set in stone and can vary depending on the airline and the territory the plane flies over, one thing is certain: the baby will have the same nationality as its birth parents.

The other possibility is that the baby will acquire the citizenship of the country where the plane is registered or where the plane is located at the time of birth. For example, if a baby is born anywhere in the United States, including in the air, he or she will immediately acquire U.S. citizenship.

Some airlines may offer free tickets for infants.

Many reports say that babies born on planes get free flights for life. However, this is not the case for everyone. Only a few babies have received free flights for life, such as a baby boy born on an Indian airline and a baby girl born on an Egyptair flight.

Babies born on Polar Airlines, AirAsia, Asia Pacific Airlines or Airways, Virgin Atlantic receive free tickets until they are 21 years old.

Plane may be renamed to celebrate baby born on flight

In 2019, a JetBlue flight landed with one extra passenger. Paramedics and crew delivered a baby boy while the plane was thousands of miles in the air. The airline renamed the plane 'Born to Be Blue' after the baby.

Some babies may even receive gifts from the airlines. In 2018, a baby girl was born on a Chick-fil-A flight. She was provided with food and even guaranteed a job when she was old enough.

Your baby's health may be at risk.

There are a few reasons why a plane is not an ideal place to give birth. First, the air is thinner, which can make it difficult for your baby to breathe. Second, there are no high-tech devices on planes to help with labor, especially if an emergency C-section is needed. Also, your baby's ears can get strained from the air pressure.

Although air births are rare, the crew will make sure the mother feels as safe and comfortable as possible. The mother may be moved to a more spacious area such as first or business class.

According to the aviation medical assistance company MedAire, births on planes occur at a rate of about one in every 26 million passengers. Dr Paulo Alves, the company's global medical director, said: 'Births on planes are rare and most of the cases are premature. It is not the best conditions for childbirth because the air on a plane is thinner. It is also dangerous for the mother and baby without a specialist obstetrician with high-tech equipment to assist if problems arise.'