Baby is born on Delta flight from Atlanta to Portland
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland saw a passenger, Ashley Blair, give birth to a healthy 5 1/2 pound baby girl just before landing, approximately two weeks early and 20 minutes ahead of schedule.
- Two paramedics on board, Tina Fritz and Kaarin Powell, assisted with the delivery using improvised materials such as blankets and a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord, as no obstetrical kit was available.
- The plane was full with 153 passengers, and flight attendants helped create space for the delivery while managing the situation as the plane was about to land.
- The newborn and mother were found healthy by Portland Airport Fire & Rescue and transported to a local hospital for observation.
- Delta Airlines expressed gratitude to the crew and medical volunteers, though there was some discrepancy about the presence of a doctor or nurse during the birth, with paramedics stating no doctor was on board.
