A Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Atlanta to Portland, Oregon, touched down with an unexpected new passenger on board after a mother gave birth mid-air on Friday night. Ashley Blair delivered her baby girl, Brielle Renee, at 30,000 feet, with the assistance of a doctor and two emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who happened to be on the flight.
Emergency Response at 30,000 Feet
EMT Tina Fritz, who was traveling with fellow EMT Caarin Powell, described the experience as a 'once-in-a-lifetime experience.' With extremely limited supplies, the medical volunteers had to improvise. 'I asked for an OB kit, which they did not have. I asked for blankets, which they did not have. So I was like, okay, we need to get blankets from passengers,' Fritz told KOIN 6. 'I need some shoestrings. So the flight attendant took his shoestring out, cut it for us.'
Fritz added that the birth was smooth and speedy. Within 30 minutes and just 'three really good pushes,' the baby was safely in Blair's arms. 'Mom was a rock star, like, mom did so good,' Fritz said.
Passengers Rally to Help
Passenger Jess Cushenberry, who was traveling with her daughter, initially had no idea what was happening. 'I actually didn't know what was going on at first,' Cushenberry told KPTV. 'Then somehow my seatmate found out that there was a baby being born.' Just a few rows from the ordeal, Cushenberry offered her own blanket to the laboring mother. 'I've given birth, and I've given birth naturally, so I know it is not a comfortable situation. And she wasn't yelling or screaming or anything,' she said of Blair.
The whole plane cheered for the mother and medical team as the aircraft safely touched ground in Portland. 'It was pretty wild just to see it all happen,' another passenger told KPTV.
A New Arrival
Fritz posted photos of the adorable baby on Facebook, bundled up in her mother's arms. One photo showed the two EMTs and the mother posed together in the row, with the little girl sound asleep. 'At three thousand miles in the air, Miss Brielle Renee was born,' Fritz wrote. 'She weighed 5lbs 8oz and was 18.5in. And the cutest thing ever.'
In a statement, a Delta spokesperson commended the crew and medical volunteers. 'We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer onboard prior to landing in Portland. The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority, and we wish the new family all the best.'
