A team of four doctors and one nurse successfully delivered a baby aboard a flight from Denmark to Vietnam after a passenger unexpectedly went into premature labour.
Dr Ho Khanh Thanh, one of the medical professionals involved in the emergency delivery during the early hours of September 6, described how the dramatic events unfolded mid-air.
Dr Ho Khanh Thanh, who works in the General Planning Department at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City (Photo: Hospital).
According to Thanh, at around 1 am on September 6, while travelling from Denmark to Vietnam, cabin crew announced a request for medical assistance after a passenger who was 30 weeks pregnant showed signs of premature labour.
Without hesitation, Thanh went to assess the woman, a 25-year-old Vietnamese first-time mother.
"At first, I thought she might be experiencing severe anxiety or a panic attack," he said. "But when I noticed strong contractions, I examined her and found that her waters had broken. I could also feel the baby's head."
Realising that delivery was imminent, Thanh concluded that immediate action was necessary.
"For a premature baby, the most important thing is to ensure a swift delivery. Any delay could increase the risk of respiratory complications," he said.
The flight happened to carry four other medical professionals: a foreign doctor, a foreign nurse, a Vietnamese cardiologist and a Vietnamese paediatrician. Although none specialised in obstetrics, each contributed according to their expertise.
The mother, who spoke several languages, remained calm throughout the ordeal and helped facilitate communication between the multinational medical team. Cabin crew also played a crucial role in supporting the emergency response.
"When I instructed her how to hold her breath and push, she followed perfectly," Thanh said. "Although aircraft conditions are limited in terms of space and medical equipment, the business-class cabin provided a relatively suitable area for the delivery."
The baby was born within six to seven minutes and weighed 1.3kg.
After the birth, the team's priority shifted to maintaining the newborn's body temperature and monitoring breathing.
With limited resources available, the doctors placed the baby directly on the mother's chest for skin-to-skin contact, helping to provide warmth and comfort. Lacking specialised cord clamps, they used a sterile face-mask strap to tie the umbilical cord before cutting it.
The medical team then established an intravenous line and administered fluids to the mother.
"The mother remained cooperative throughout the process," Thanh said. "Once the baby cried and began breathing normally, she repeatedly thanked everyone. Her calmness, the crew's professionalism and the teamwork on board all contributed to a positive outcome."
Thanh, who works at Cho Ray Hospital, said the aircraft was still more than two hours away from Vietnam when the baby was born, creating additional concerns given the infant's premature condition.
The flight crew considered emergency landing options between Myanmar and Bangkok. After discussions with aviation authorities, Myanmar, the closer destination, granted permission for an emergency landing.
Once on the ground, passengers remained on board while the aircraft was refuelled. The mother and newborn were transferred to a hospital in Myanmar for further care.
According to Vietnam Airlines, flight VN38 departed Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 5 bound for Ho Chi Minh City. About 10 hours into the journey, the passenger unexpectedly went into labour.
Following the successful delivery, the crew diverted the aircraft to Yangon International Airport in Myanmar, where local ground services and airport authorities coordinated the transfer of the mother and child to hospital for treatment and monitoring.
After completing the emergency procedures, flight VN38 resumed its journey at 3.30 am on September 6 local time and landed safely at Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 6.05 am the same day.
