Welcome to New York!
A passenger on a Caribbean Airlines flight found herself in labor just moments before the aircraft touched down at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday. Air traffic control even offered a clever name suggestion for the newborn.
The baby made its debut aboard Caribbean Airlines Flight 005 as the plane was making its final approach to New York, just shy of noon, as per an ATC recording obtained by CBS News.
“Tell her she’s got to name it Kennedy,” a JFK ground controller playfully proposed to the new mother.
The Boeing 737 Max 8, which had taken off from Kingston, Jamaica, became an unexpected delivery room when the crew requested priority landing from the authorities.
“Descend and maintain 3000, Caribbean 005, and we have a passenger that’s going into labor at this time, and we’d like to continue direct Zetal,” the pilot reported, according to the audio recording.
The air traffic controller misheard the pilot and questioned whether there was a “sick passenger” aboard the plane.
“We have a passenger, a pregnant passenger, whoâs going into labor at this time, requesting direct Zetal,” the pilot corrected.
The plane was given the green light for the direct approach, with medical personnel stationed to meet it at the gate.
“Kennedy Tower, Caribbean Airlines 005, descending through 2,200 for 2,000 direct ZETAL, with one woman in labor on board,” the pilot said.
After the plane landed, a JFK ground controller welcomed the flight and asked about the child’s status.
“Caribbean five, ground. Is it out yet?” the airport official asked as the pilot responded with a hardy ” Yes, sir.
The conditions of the mother and her newborn were not immediately known.
Saturday’s birth is not the first time a baby has been born on a flight flying to JFK.
In January 2015, a then-33-year-old mother went into labor during a Royal Jordanian flight as a doctor and nurse on board helped with the delivery.
The flight landed just over two hours after the birth and both mother and child were brought to Jamaica Hospital in Queens in good condition.
