What Happens When You Go Into Labor Mid-flight

Going into labor can feel scary any time, but going into labor at 30,000 feet can be downright terrifying.

That was the case for one woman who gave birth mid-flight on an Emirates plane en route to Dubai from Tokyo in January 2023. CNN reported that the 12-hour flight still landed on schedule, just with one more traveler in tow, and with the care of the flight crew, both parent and baby were in stable condition upon arrival.  

Beyond the initial inconvenience of giving birth in an airplane lavatory, there are a number of other factors to consider for pregnant fliers. Here, we go over what you can expect and how to best navigate the experience.

Guidelines for Flying While Pregnant Vary

Let’s face it, giving birth mid-flight is not an ideal situation. Doctors typically recommend pregnant women stop flying after 36 weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic, and take precautions when they do fly, like walking around the aisles, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding gassy foods and drinks before the flight.

Airlines have their own policies as well: British Airways, for example, recommends carrying a letter from your doctor or midwife with your expected due date, confirming there have been no complications with the pregnancy. And American Airlines requires pregnant fliers to provide a doctor's note if they’re flying within four weeks of their due date.

What Happens If You Go Into Labor Mid-flight

So, you’re already up in the air when the baby decides it’s time — what next?

Flight attendants are trained to react quickly in emergencies, including medical emergencies; one flight attendant told Business Insider that she “could deliver a baby if I have to.”

If a doctor happens to be on board, they could be called into action. That was the case when a woman gave birth to a baby boy mid-flight from Istanbul to Chicago on Turkish Airlines. Dr. Feridun Kubilay was called on to help deliver the baby — his first in decades. 

The Baby's Citizenship May Be Uncertain

Determining the baby’s citizenship can pose a whole new set of questions, CNN noted. It comes down to the country: If the baby is born over land, some countries may grant citizenship — the U.S., for example, automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in the country's waters or airspace, according to CNN. While other country might consider factors such as the parents’ citizenship or the country where the plane is registered. 

Do You Really Get a Lifetime of Free Flights? 

But what everyone really wants to know is, will the baby get to fly for free? The short answer is, maybe. As reported by CNN, there have been instances when an airline will gift flights to a baby born onboard, like one boy who was given a lifetime of free flights with Buraq Air in 2016, and a newborn on a Cebu Pacific flight who was awarded 1 million air miles.

They are born travelers, after all.