Pictured: Baby born at 39,000ft after his mother went /Bulgarian mother ...

Bulgarian mother gives birth during flight



These heartwarming photos were taken moments after a baby boy was born on board a long-haul flight 39,000 feet above the Atlantic.

The Lufthansa flight from Colombia to Germany was quickly diverted to Manchester Airport after the unexpected delivery on Wednesday afternoon.

Luckily, three passengers happened to be doctors and were on hand to help deliver baby Nikolai, who was adorably named after one of the medics.

The plane was grounded at Manchester at 1pm so the healthy newborn and his Bulgarian mother Desislava, 38, could receive special care at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Captain of the flight, Kurt Mayer, said he'd 'never experienced anything like it' in his 37-year career.

He said: 'Aside from the birth of my own son, this was the most moving moment of my life.

'The entire crew did an extraordinary job. This was great teamwork, with everyone doing their part.



Several passengers were moved to the front of the plane, while the back of the aircraft became an impromptu delivery room.

The entire delivery area was closed off with a privacy screen, and the birth was carried out without any complications.

Head flight attendant Carolin van Osch said: 'When the baby was born, I informed the other passengers over the passenger address system.



'The passengers applauded and were just happy that everything went well. On behalf of the crew, I would like to thank the doctors who helped make this possible, and we wish the family all the best.'

Births on flights are relatively rare - however, this was the eleventh birth on board a Lufthansa flight since 1965.

Women who are expecting can fly with Lufthansa right until the end of the ninth month of pregnancy as long as there are no complications.

Flight crews are specially trained to deal with births on board. The airline advises pregnant passengers to talk to their gynaecologist before planning a flight.