On a recent flight by Brussels Airlines from Dakar in Senegal to Brussels in Belgium, passengers witnessed an unusual event when a pregnant woman suddenly gave birth on the plane to a girl named Fanta. It was shortly after take-off that the mother gave birth to her baby girl.
This heartwarming tale was shared on the airline’s Facebook page to highlight the teamwork, care and compassion shown by their cabin crew. Jennifer Joie was a flight attendant who took charge of helping the woman. She had the help of a recently graduated nurse, and also a doctor, both passengers.
In a post, a spokesperson from Brussels Airlines said, “It’s a real reflection of teamwork, caring, and extraordinary moments that occur in the skies.” “Welcome, Fanta!” You’ll be welcome back one day!
Jennifer Joie said that after noticing the woman was in labour, she had her time contractions. Shortly after, her water broke confirming the arrival of the child.
Flight crew informed the cockpit immediately, and the decision was taken to turn around the plane. The long distance flight required safety checks due to fuel levels onboard. During the preparations for Fanta’s arrival, safety checks were necessary.
Brussels Airlines
Joie confessed that “the first moments were quite stressful.” Is it okay with the baby? Does she breathe?” When Fanta started to cry and the doctor confirmed that the baby was healthy, tensions began to ease.
Joie has emphasized, as a mom herself, that Brussels Airlines crews are trained to manage various scenarios in the air, including childbirth. We stayed calm as soon we knew the woman in pain.
She called the experience “magical” and was proud to have helped with the unplanned delivery. She said she hoped to see Fanta once more in the near future.
Online, the story sparked a positive response. People praised both professionalism and compassion on behalf of crew members. Many passengers praised the crew’s work and complimented their mother for her “fantastic birth”.
A passenger added to the unbelievable nature of this event by revealing, “My husband and I had been on that flight. Cheers to the crew and the fabulous announcement: ‘We have a little new passenger on board.’ A special moment!”
Brussels Airlines policy allows women pregnant in good condition to travel up to the 36th week or 4 weeks before expected delivery. The airline does recommend that pregnant women who are more than 26 weeks along with a doctor’s note of clearance travel by air.
The airline representative said, “We were proud of how our crew treated this incident in flight with professionalism and compassion.”
Since then, the airline has contacted both parents to confirm that Fanta and her mother are in good health. They added, “We wish this family the very best.” This touching story is a great reminder to the unpredictable and incredible moments that can happen, even when you are 30,000 feet in the air.