Manila-bound flight diverted to Hyderabad as woman delivers baby mid-air

Though the plane was eventually delayed by nearly nine hours, none of the passengers complained
Manila-bound flight diverted to Hyderabad as woman delivers baby mid-air
Manila-bound flight diverted to Hyderabad as woman delivers baby mid-air
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When a Manila-bound flight from Dubai was diverted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Sunday, causing a nearly nine-hour delay, none of the passengers had any complaints.

The plane had to make an emergency landing in India after a woman delivered a premature baby mid-flight. 

The woman on-board the Cebu Pacific Air flight was scheduled for delivery only in October. She however went into labour a few hours after the flight took off, according to Missy Berberabe Umandal, a co-passenger who shared the entire incident in a Facebook post

There were two nurses among the passengers and they along with the crew helped the woman deliver her baby. 

"She was already crowning, so she was brought to the more spacious area in front of the plane. We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later, there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was when we knew the baby was born. Luckily, she only had to push ONCE," she wrote. 

The flight attendants turned a shelf from the cabinets into a makeshift basin to clean the baby, who has reportedly been named Haven. 

"There were 2 other babies with us in the front row, and one of the passengers had a suitcase full of infant clothes and necessities, which could not have come at a better time," she added. 

The emergency landing was made in India so that the mother and newborn could receive medical assistance. The 9-hour flight turned to a nearly 18-hour journey, but no one complained, Missy Berberabe Umandal said.

"Baby girl 'Haven' was born approximately four hours after the departure of flight 5J015 from the Dubai International Airport last Sunday, August 14, 2016. CEB cabin crew, along with two registered nurses who were also passengers on the flight, assisted with the delivery," Cebu Pacific Air said.

Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO, said that the airline will gift one million GetGo points to the baby to celebrate the occasion. "To celebrate this momentous occasion in the life of one of our passengers, CEB awards Baby Haven one million GetGo points, which she can use to fly with us for free," he said. 

GetGo is CEB's lifestyle rewards program. The baby's points have no expiration date, and can be utilized by her family members too.

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