A routine flight from Dakar to Brussels took an unexpected turn when a pregnant passenger, Ndeye, went into labor mid-flight. Flight attendant Jennifer Joie, along with two medical professionals onboard—a doctor and a nurse—acted swiftly, transforming the cabin into an improvised delivery room.
As Ndeye’s labor progressed, the crew guided her through breathing exercises. Moments later, her water broke. The pilots immediately turned the plane back toward Dakar, but before they could land, baby Fanta had already arrived.
“The first moments were tense—was she okay? Was she breathing?” the airline shared in a LinkedIn post. “Then, the most beautiful sound filled the cabin: her first cry.” Jennifer, who cradled baby Fanta as the plane landed in Dakar, described the experience as “magical.”
A doctor later confirmed that both mother and baby were healthy. Jennifer reflected on the event, noting, “As a cabin crew member, you train for everything, even childbirth—but nothing truly prepares you for the real thing. We stayed calm, worked as a team, and followed our procedures.”
She added with a smile that had she not chosen her current career, she might have become a midwife instead.
The heartwarming story was shared by Brussels Airlines on Instagram, where they introduced baby Fanta and Jennifer to the world. The airline wrote, “We hope to have you on board again one day.”
The post quickly gained attention, with users praising the crew’s quick actions. One commenter wrote, “Great work crew,” while another added, “Welcome Fanta! What an adventure, what a story!” A third user humorously suggested, “That baby should get a lifetime flying pass with Brussels and its Star Alliance partners.”
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