Baby delivered mid-air on Air India Express flight from Muscat to Mumbai

It was no ordinary flight for passengers aboard Air India Express Flight IX 350 from Muscat to Mumbai. Somewhere above the Arabian Sea, at 35,000 feet in the sky “a baby was born”.

In a rare and heartwarming incident that played out mid-air, a Thai national went into labour and the cabin crew, trained for emergencies but rarely thrust into such real-life stakes, sprang into action. A nurse among the passengers stepped forward, and together, they turned the aircraft into a makeshift delivery room.

“It wasn’t just quick thinking; it was humanity at its best. Our crew stayed calm and composed, ensuring both safety and dignity for the guest,” said an Air India Express official.

Pilots Capt Ashish Vaghani and Capt Faraz Ahmed immediately alerted Air Traffic Control and sought priority landing in Mumbai. Even as the cockpit managed altitude and speed, the cabin became a scene of quiet courage. Senior cabin crew Sneha Naga, along with Aishwarya Shirke, Asiya Khalid and Muskan Chauhan, coordinated the birth.

When the flight touched down at around 4am on Thursday at Mumbai airport, medical teams were already in position. An ambulance ferried the mother and new-born to a nearby hospital. The airline staffers stayed with the duo to ensure continued support.

Air India Express said it was in touch with the Consulate General of Thailand to facilitate the mother’s safe return. “We are providing every possible assistance for her onward journey,” the airline confirmed in a statement.