Overview
- On Delta Flight 478 from Atlanta to Portland, a pregnant passenger went into rapid labor about half an hour before landing and two off-duty paramedics stepped in to help.
- The helpers, identified as Tina Fritz and Kaarin Powell, were flying home from a Dominican Republic vacation and had already assisted a sick passenger earlier in the flight.
- They improvised with what was on hand by borrowing blankets from nearby travelers and using a flight attendant’s shoelace to tie the umbilical cord.
- Mother Ashley Blair delivered daughter Brielle Renee after three strong pushes during the approach, with passengers cheering as the newborn was handed to her; the baby weighed about 2.5 kilograms and measured roughly 47 centimeters.
- After the jet parked at the gate, Portland airport fire crews confirmed both were well and took them to a local hospital for observation, and Delta later thanked the crew and medical helpers; such births are uncommon and some airlines restrict flying late in pregnancy.