DUSHANBE, December 27, Asia-Plus — No one expected mom-to-be Umeda to go into labor on a flight from St. Petersburg to Dushanbe. She is lucky that air hostesses came to the rescue, helping with delivery of the baby.
The baby was born on a plane of Tajik State Air Company TajikAir on the flight from St. Petersburg to Dushanbe on December 23, Asia-Plus has learned from Nazira Davlatov, a spokeswoman for TajikAir. According to her it is the first case in history of Tajik national air carrier over the last 30 years.
Davlatova said that the expectant mother had assured TajikAir”s emloyees that she is in good condition and will bear the flight. “However, 10-15 minutes after takeoff birth pangs started,” said the spokeswoman, “There was no medical workers among passengers. Thankfully, the crewmen kept their heads and made a decision to help with delivery.”
Air hostesses Zebo Kholiqova and Gulnoz Gurezova helped Umeda with delivery of the baby. The baby came out when the plane was just landing in the Dushanbe airport.
After landing, the baby and his mother were rushed to Dushanbe maternity house # 2. Doctors said that Zebo and Gulnoz had coped with assisting in childbirth very good.
Thus, TajikAir’s TU-154 departed from St. Petersburg with 150 passengers on board and arrived in Dushanbe with 151.
Umeda and her son are doing well and the Tajik national air carrier presented them baby carriage and New Year’s gifts.
