Baby Comes In for a Landing Mid-Flight on Delta Plane

Passengers on a Friday night Delta flight to Portland ended up with a story most birth plans don't cover. About half an hour before Flight 478 landed at Portland International Airport, a woman identified only as Ashley went into labor, the airline and witnesses said. Two off-duty Oregon EMTs, friends Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, happened to be on the Atlanta-to-Portland flight returning from vacation when a call went out over the intercom for medical help. "Then the steward came up to us and he goes, 'Hey, we have a lady up front who thinks she's going into labor. Contractions are about three minutes apart. Can you guys check her out?' " Fritz tells KOIN.

Lacking an obstetrics kit or even blankets, they improvised with items from passengers and a flight attendant's shoelaces before helping Ashley deliver after just a few pushes, Fritz says. Paramedics waiting on the ground were updated thusly, per KATU: "The baby has been delivered on the aircraft. So, they're gonna be coming in with the baby delivered. Both are doing fine at this time, according to the pilot." The plane touched down around 10pm, with the cabin erupting in cheers. "It was a once in a lifetime experience, actually," Fritz says. Delta thanked its crew and the medical volunteers and said "we wish the new family all the best."