* A baby was recently born on an Egyptair flight from N’Djamena, Chad to Cairo, delivered by airline crew and a medical student
* Although it is not standard practice, most airlines usually offer free travel for life to babies born on their aircraft, among them Egyptair
* One question that often brings complications is the child’s nationality when they are born at 40,000 feet or so above sea level
On April 6, an Egyptair flight from N’Djamena to Cairo received an additional passenger mid-air when an expectant woman went into labour and delivered on board.
The baby was born in Sudanese airspace and the flight forced to divert to Aswan so that the mother and her newborn would be attended to.
Although it is not standard practice, most airlines usually offer free travel for life to babies born on their aircraft, and Egyptair happens to be among those that give that airline lottery.
How did a woman near her delivery date get on board an international aircraft? One may ask.
Flying Pregnant According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), air travel for pregnant women is safe as long as the pregnancy has no history of complications.
Airline companies, too, have no issue carrying expectant passengers and in the third trimester as long as the pregnancy is less than 36 weeks. A select few international carriers, however, restrict the acceptable age to 28 weeks. It has also been advised that all expectant women looking to fly, especially to international destinations, should visit a doctor to give the green light before she travels.
Normally, the airline crew swings into action when a woman goes into labour on board, and in cases where the delivery seems complicated, the aircraft diverts to the nearest airport to allow her to seek professional help.
One question that oftentimes brings complications is the child’s nationality when they are born at 40,000 feet above sea level.
There exist two approaches to this situation, and the application varies from one country to the other.
Some countries apply the law of jus sanguinis, which is Latin for “right of blood.” In other words, the baby takes the nationality of the parents even if he or she is born in another country’s airspace.
In other words, once a baby is born in their airspace or land, they are offered the country’s citizenship regardless of the parents’ nationalities. In America, this is stipulated under the statute on Acquisition by Birth, 8 FAM 301.1, but also allows for dual citizenship in the event the parents originate from a country that allows for that.