culled from ThisDay
An Arik Air flight with over 100
passengers en route to London Sunday was forced to make an emergency
landing in Palmas, Spain, as a woman went into labour and gave birth
while the aircraft was airborne.
passengers en route to London Sunday was forced to make an emergency
landing in Palmas, Spain, as a woman went into labour and gave birth
while the aircraft was airborne.
The pilot was said to have requested the emergency landing on the
advice of two doctors who were on board the aircraft and had helped the
mother deliver the baby.
advice of two doctors who were on board the aircraft and had helped the
mother deliver the baby.
When the passenger went into labour, the cabin crew asked that doctors on board the flight to identify themselves.
Following the announcement, two of the passengers came forward, saying
they were doctors and assisted in the delivery of the baby.
Following the announcement, two of the passengers came forward, saying
they were doctors and assisted in the delivery of the baby.
Normally, a source disclosed that in the few instances where women have
given birth on board, the aircraft would continue its flight to its
final destination. However, the Arik flight was forced to make an
emergency landing following the advice of the doctors that the woman was
bleeding excessively – she was said to have experienced
excessive hemorrhaging, necessitating the emergency landing.
given birth on board, the aircraft would continue its flight to its
final destination. However, the Arik flight was forced to make an
emergency landing following the advice of the doctors that the woman was
bleeding excessively – she was said to have experienced
excessive hemorrhaging, necessitating the emergency landing.
At the time of this report, both mother and child were said to have
been stable but were left behind in Palmas for monitoring by medical
personnel, while the flight continued on its journey to London.
been stable but were left behind in Palmas for monitoring by medical
personnel, while the flight continued on its journey to London.
The airline was trying to ascertain if
the woman had presented a false medical report from her doctor on the
true duration of her pregnancy or she had gone into premature labour
while on board the flight.
the woman had presented a false medical report from her doctor on the
true duration of her pregnancy or she had gone into premature labour
while on board the flight.
Women with full term pregnancies are not allowed to travel by air,
according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
regulations. As such, intending pregnant passengers are required to
present medical reports certifying that they are less than 32 weeks
pregnant before they are allowed to fly.
according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
regulations. As such, intending pregnant passengers are required to
present medical reports certifying that they are less than 32 weeks
pregnant before they are allowed to fly.
A source said the airline was carrying out a full-scale investigation
to ascertain the genuineness of the medical report presented by the
woman.
to ascertain the genuineness of the medical report presented by the
woman.
Arik Air’s management said yesterday that if it is discovered
that the woman was given a false report to enable her fly, it would file
a special complaint against the doctor who had issued the medical
report to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) for endangering her life
and that of the baby, as well that of other passengers on board the
flight.
that the woman was given a false report to enable her fly, it would file
a special complaint against the doctor who had issued the medical
report to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) for endangering her life
and that of the baby, as well that of other passengers on board the
flight.
