Get you up to speed: ITA Airways records first in-flight birth as woman delivers baby mid-flight
A woman gave birth on board ITA Airways flight AZ855, which was travelling from Dakar, Senegal, to Rome, Italy, at an altitude of 34,000 feet. This event marks the first baby born on an ITA Airways aircraft in the airline’s history.
ITA Airways confirmed that a woman gave birth aboard flight AZ855 from Dakar to Rome, marking the airline’s first recorded birth on an aircraft. The airline praised the professionalism of the crew and thanked the doctor and nurse on board for their assistance during the incident.
ITA Airways confirmed that a baby was born on flight AZ855, marking the first instance of a birth on board one of their aircraft. Following the birth, the Airbus A321 jet returned to Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport for the mother and baby to receive assistance, before departing again shortly after for Rome Fiumicino airport.
Baby born mid-flight to Rome after mum goes into labour early | News World

The woman went into labour at 34,000 feet mid-air on a flight to Rome (Picture: Facebook/ITA Airways)
A woman gave birth to a baby on board a flight to Rome after going into labour early, 34,000 feet above the ground.
The crew and passengers on board ITA Airways flight AZ855 jumped into action when a passenger began to give birth.
The Airbus A321 jet was travelling from Dakar, Senegal, to Italy’s capital Rome on Wednesday when things took a surprising turn.
An hour after take off, the alarm was raised that the seven-month pregnant woman was about to deliver her baby.
She appears to have been moved to a more private section of the plane away from other passengers while the crew called for any medical professionals to step forward.
Luckily for the mum and baby, a doctor and a nurse were on board.
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ITA Airways posted about the once-in-a-lifetime event on social media, saying this is the first baby born on the carrier’s aircraft ever.
The airline said in a caption posted in Italian: ‘A pleasant and unexpected event made ITA Airways’ day.
‘On flight AZ855 that departed from Dakar last night and headed to Rome Fiumicino, an hour after take-off a seven-month pregnant woman gave birth to a baby prematurely.
‘The mother and the baby received immediate assistance from the crew, who demonstrated great professionalism, and two passengers, a doctor and a nurse, to whom the company deserves the most sincere thanks.
‘The baby, in perfect health, is the first baby born on board an aircraft in ITA Airways history, wishing the baby a wonderful life full of joy.’
It appears the plane was travelling between Western Sahara and Mauritania when pilots made a sharp U-turn, according to the plane tracking website Flightradar24.
The plane touched down back in Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport at about 2.30am local time.
The same Airbus plane appears to have taken off from Dakar again shortly before 4am, arriving at Rome Fiumicino airport just before 9am.
Last month, a woman gave birth on a flight to John F Kennedy Airport in the US.
It sparked a debate about the infant’s nationality as the US has traditionally recognised birthright for babies born in American airspace or soil.
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