A baby was delivered on a flight to Italy after a woman went into premature labor. The incident occurred just one hour after the ITA Airways flight departed from Dakar, Senegal, prompting cabin crew to assist in the birth onboard.

With the help of a doctor and a nurse among the passengers, an impromptu delivery room was arranged in the aircraft gallery near the exit. The newborn was safely brought into the world during the flight from Dakar to Rome Fiumicino on April 29, as confirmed by ITA Airways.

Passenger Sandro Pisu, recounting the event, mentioned being awoken by the call for medical assistance and expressed surprise at the unexpected birth. The cabin erupted into cheers upon the baby boy’s arrival, prompting the plane to return to Dakar’s Blaise Diagne Airport for the mother and child to receive medical attention.

In a statement shared on Facebook, ITA Airways celebrated the unique occurrence and praised the crew, the doctor, and the nurse for their swift and professional response. The airline expressed gratitude to those involved and extended well wishes to the healthy newborn, noting that this birth marked a first in ITA Airways’ history.

This event follows a similar incident earlier in April, where a baby was born on a Caribbean Airlines flight from Jamaica to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport. The mother and newborn received medical care upon landing, with no details disclosed on the baby’s gender or the exact timing of the birth during the four-hour flight.