A newborn baby entered the world unexpectedly during a flight to Italy when a mother experienced premature labor. The incident occurred shortly after the plane departed from Dakar, Senegal, on an ITA Airways flight, prompting cabin crew to assist in the mid-air delivery.
A makeshift birthing area was quickly arranged in a designated space onboard the aircraft, with two passengers, a doctor, and a nurse stepping forward to aid the seven-month pregnant woman. The airline later confirmed that a passenger gave birth on flight AZ855 from Dakar to Rome Fiumicino on the night of April 29.
One of the passengers, Sandro Pisu, recounted the surprising event, expressing disbelief at the situation and the rapid arrival of the newborn baby boy. The plane made an emergency return to Blaise Diagne Airport in Dakar to ensure the mother and baby received proper medical attention.
In a statement on social media, ITA Airways described the unexpected birth as a heartwarming event and commended the crew, the doctor, and the nurse for their swift and professional response. The healthy baby boy marked the first-ever birth onboard an ITA Airways flight, with best wishes extended for a joyful and prosperous life.
This incident follows a similar occurrence earlier in the month when a baby was born on a flight from Jamaica to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The birth took place on a Caribbean Airlines flight, and both mother and baby received immediate medical care upon landing.