Plane diverted after woman gives birth to baby girl onboard

Commentators said baby should get free travel for life

A woman gave birth onboard a Middle East Airlines flight (iStock)

A plane was diverted when a passenger gave birth to a baby girl onboard.

Lebanon-based Middle East Airlines flight ME435 was flying from Doha to Beirut when a passenger gave birth just after entering Iraqi airspace.

The flight was diverted to Kuwait.

According to local media, the Filipino passenger gave birth to her baby daughter in the plane toilet.

The crew were alerted and took care of the woman until the plane landed in Kuwait.

A picture of mother and baby was shared on Facebook group Lebanese Plane Spotters.

Commentators suggested that the Middle Eastern airline should give the baby free travel for life.

Another suggested that the baby should be named “Mea” after the airline she was born on.

In 2017, a baby born on Jet Airways was awarded free flights for life after it was born prematurely mid-flight. The airline has since suspended all operations.

Earlier this year, a woman went into labour on a Philippine Airlines flight to Manila, prompting an emergency landing in Hyderabad, India.

The unnamed passenger started giving birth on the flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before the Philippine Airlines pilot made the decision to divert to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport while flying over India.