A team of Emirates flight attendants were on hand during a 12hour flight between Tokyo and Dubai to help give birth to a pregnant woman aboard the world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380. Both the child and the mother recover well after the early arrival.
In a statement, an airline spokesman said: “Emirates can confirm a birth on board flight EK319 from TokyoNarita to Dubai on January 19. The crew assisted the passenger and the flight proceeded to Dubai as scheduled. The condition of the passenger and the baby was stable and upon arrival in Dubai, they were met by local medical staff. The health and safety of our crew and passengers is of the utmost importance.”
In the press release, the airline said the planes are equipped with a wide range of medical equipment, including a special supply pack, as well as oxygen, analgesics, defibrillators and only medical medications that can be administered by healthcare professionals who are on board.
In addition, flight attendants are trained in medical care, which includes learning basic lifesaving skills, including delivering a baby on board.
Emirates also has its own medical ground team at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai, which can be contacted 24/7 by satellite phone by cabin crew to provide assistance, expertise and advice in managing an onboard medical emergency.