Nigerian woman gives birth to daughter in mid air aboard KLM flight to Amsterdam

Another Nigeria has been born in international transit after a pregnant woman aboard a KLM flight from Lagos to Amsterdam unexpectedly went into labour and gave birth in mid air after which the aircraft made an emergency landing in Barcelona.

According to Aviation24, the incident happened early on Monday morning when one of the passengers on KLM Flight 588, a Boeing 777, suddenly went into labour while flying from Lagos to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Apparently, the woman, whose name has not been released, was taken to the front galley of the aircraft where she gave birth to a premature baby girl.

Afterwards, the plane then made an emergency landing in Barcelona where medical staff were waiting. Both mother and daughter were said to be doing well after receiving medical attention ion a Spanish hospital.

KLM spokeswoman, Marjan Rozemeijer: “I can confirm that a baby was born on the KL588 on its way from Lagos to Amsterdam. Due to privacy reasons I cannot make any further statements on the birth.”

Babies are rarely born in mid-air because most airlines refuse to fly pregnant women after the 36th week. A 2019 study found records of 74 births on commercial flights between 1929 and 2018.

In some cases, babies born in the air may qualify for citizenship of the country they were flying in. In Monday’s case, however, the plane was likely flying over international waters at the time of birth, so the baby can claim a multiple of nationalities.