Airplane belonging to Middle East Airlines. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — A woman gave birth on the tarmac of Beirut International Airport last week shortly after her plane landed, a spokesperson for Middle East Airlines (MEA) told L'Orient Today on Monday.
According to the spokesperson, the woman was flying from Lagos to Dubai via Beirut on an MEA flight.
"[She] reported her pregnancy to the cabin crew. Despite having obtained the necessary medical clearance, she experienced severe labor cramps before the aircraft landed in Beirut," MEA said in a statement sent to L'Orient Today, adding that an ambulance was able to meet the woman on the tarmac.
"Fortunately, the skilled and experienced cabin crew provided exceptional medical assistance and successfully (helped) deliver her baby," the spokesperson continued. "After landing, both [the woman] and her newborn were hospitalized and are now safe and well, thanks to the cabin crew's professionalism and expertise."
The Red Cross, which reportedly transferred the woman and her newborn to the hospital, could not immediately be reached for comment.
According to an MEA spokesperson, a woman gave birth onboard an MEA flight from Doha to Beirut in 2019.
