North Carolina Mom Who Delivers Baby on Plane Reunites With First Responders Who Assisted the Birth

A North Carolina mom who had her baby born onboard a Delta Airlines flight 1804 reunited with the first responders who helped her welcome her first child safely into the world.  

Liliana Castaneda Avilia from North Carolina agreed to meet with the first responders of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department for Thanksgiving so she could express her gratitude again for their assistance during baby Analia's delivery.

Avilia was aboard the Delta Airlines flight from Mexico to North Carolina on November 14 when she started experiencing contractions. Fortunately, a nurse was also on the flight who led her to the back of the plane and told her to try not to push as the pilots steered to the next airport three hours away in Atlanta.

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Her Baby Wasn't Due Until December

Avilia was surprised when her water broke midway through the flight because her due date was not until December 23. She was coming from a visit to her family in Mexico and was going back to North Carolina knowing that she had enough time to prepare for the baby's birth.

On the ground at the Atlanta airport, the first responders waiting for the Delta Airlines plane noticed that it was "coming in exceedingly fast," so they prepared for the emergency. Juanetta Nash, however, told Today that they were still nervous despite knowing what to do.

As soon as the plane landed, the first responders got on the back of the aircraft, where the mom was waiting, along with her husband, Edgar Acevedo.

"Once she did deliver, one of the flight attendants got on the microphone and she was able to say, 'Hey we have a baby girl,' and everybody started clapping," Nash shared.

Dad Was Nervous and Worried

Acevedo said that he was nervous and apprehensive for his wife during the whole ordeal because her labor pains were excruciating. However, he's also glad and grateful that his wife and new baby girl were both doing fine after the delivery because they had expert help from the first responders.

Marlo Blas of the Atlanta Fire Rescue's Aviation EMS team told WSBTV that it's not often that they deal with happy moments, such as an emergency birth, so this was a gratifying experience.

Only about 50 births on a plane, or one in 26 million passengers, have been recorded worldwide, per Simple Flying. Airlines have a policy against allowing pregnant women to fly if their due date is within 30 days to minimize the risks. However, if they need to be on a plane, they must show a doctor's clearance.

Most of the unexpected births, such as this particular baby on a plane, have been premature. Airlines generally train the flight crew for first aid and other medical emergencies, except birth assistance. In this case, the crew has to inform personnel on the ground or carry out a flight diversion.

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