Trending Now - Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing as Baby Arrives Mid-flight

WHO:

Fox News - A woman identified only as Ashley gave birth midair on Delta flight 478.

Fox News - Two off-duty EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, assisted in the delivery.

Newser - Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell were returning from vacation when they helped deliver the baby.

WHAT:

Fox News - The flight was carrying 153 passengers along with two pilots and four flight attendants.

Newser - The EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, stated that they were called to assist after a flight attendant announced the need for medical personnel.

AP - The responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue found both the mother and baby healthy and transported them to a local hospital for observation.

CNN - The paramedics used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowed blankets from other passengers to assist in the delivery.

Newser - The delivery was completed after just a few pushes, with Fritz stating, "Mom was a rock star."

Newser - Paramedics waiting on the ground were informed that "the baby has been delivered on the aircraft" and that "both are doing fine at this time, according to the pilot."

NY Post - A doctor and two nurses on board assisted flight attendants in the delivery of the baby.

Fox News - Delta stated, "We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer onboard prior to landing in Portland."

CNN - The baby, named Brielle Renee Blair, weighed 5 1/2 pounds at birth.

CNN - The mother, Ashley Blair, was flying from Tennessee to Oregon to be with her own mother for the birth.

CNN - The responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue found both the mother and baby healthy and transported them to a local hospital for observation.

Fox News - The flight declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic control due to the labor situation.

CNN - The paramedics used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowed blankets from other passengers to assist in the delivery.

Fox News - The EMTs improvised using items from passengers and a flight attendant, including blankets and a shoelace, to assist in the delivery.

Newser - The EMTs were called to assist after a flight attendant announced the need for medical personnel.

Fox News - The flight declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic control before landing safely and being met by emergency medical services.

Newser - The EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, stated that they were returning from vacation when a flight attendant made an announcement asking for medical personnel.

AP - The responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue found both the mother and baby healthy and transported them to a local hospital for observation.

Fox News - Delta stated, "We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer onboard prior to landing in Portland."

Newser - EMT Tina Fritz described the delivery, saying, "Within three really good pushes, the baby was out and doing perfect."

AP - The baby was named Brielle Renee Blair and weighed 5 1/2 pounds at birth.

CNN - The baby, named Brielle Renee Blair, weighed 5 1/2 pounds at birth.

CNN - The mother, Ashley Blair, was flying from Tennessee to Oregon to be with her own mother for the birth.

CNN - The responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue found both the mother and baby healthy and transported them to a local hospital for observation.

Fox News - The flight was carrying 153 passengers along with two pilots and four flight attendants.

Newser - The EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, stated that they were called to assist after a flight attendant announced the need for medical personnel.

Newser - Paramedics waiting on the ground were informed that "the baby has been delivered on the aircraft" and that "both are doing fine at this time, according to the pilot."

NY Post - A doctor and two nurses on board assisted flight attendants in the delivery of the baby.

Fox News - The woman went into labor aboard Delta flight 478 from Atlanta to Portland.

Fox News - The baby was delivered approximately 30 minutes before the aircraft landed at Portland International Airport.

Newser - The delivery was completed after just a few pushes, with Fritz stating, "Mom was a rock star."

Newser - The cabin erupted in cheers when the plane touched down around 10 PM.

WHERE:

Fox News - The flight was from Atlanta to Portland, landing at Portland International Airport.

Newser - The delivery occurred midair on Delta flight 478.

WHEN:

Fox News - The flight took place on April 24.

Newser - The plane landed around 10 PM.

WHY:

Fox News - The flight declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic control due to the labor situation.

HOW:

CNN - The paramedics used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowed blankets from other passengers to assist in the delivery.

Fox News - The EMTs improvised using items from passengers and a flight attendant, including blankets and a shoelace, to assist in the delivery.

Newser - The EMTs were called to assist after a flight attendant announced the need for medical personnel.

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 15:45 UTC)

In a remarkable in-flight delivery, a baby girl named Brielle Renee Blair was born aboard a Delta flight carrying 153 passengers, with the crew declaring an emergency to ensure priority handling upon landing in Portland. Paramedics and medical volunteers on board, including a doctor and two nurses, assisted the mother, Ashley Blair, using a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and blankets borrowed from other passengers to help with the delivery, which was completed after just a few pushes. Both mother and baby were reported healthy and were transported to a local hospital for observation after the flight landed.

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 07:52 UTC)

A flight declared an emergency and safely landed, where it was met by emergency medical services after a flight attendant requested medical personnel on board. Two EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, who were returning from vacation, assisted in delivering a baby during the flight, using a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowing blankets from other passengers. The responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue found both the mother and baby healthy and transported them to a local hospital for observation.

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 05:54 UTC)

Delta Airlines has expressed gratitude to the crew and medical volunteers who provided care to a passenger during an in-flight emergency that led to the delivery of a baby. EMT Tina Fritz shared that the delivery was swift, with the baby, named Brielle Renee Blair, arriving after just three strong pushes and weighing 5 and a half pounds at birth. Paramedics creatively used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowed blankets from fellow passengers to help with the delivery.

(UPDATED April 28, 2026 01:28 UTC)

A baby girl named Brielle Renee Blair was born on a flight from Tennessee to Oregon, weighing five and a half pounds at birth. Her mother, Ashley Blair, was en route to be with her own mother for the delivery when the Portland Airport Fire & Rescue crew responded, finding both mother and baby healthy and transporting them to a local hospital for observation. Remarkably, the paramedics used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord and borrowed blankets from other passengers to assist in the delivery.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 23:16 UTC)

A flight carrying 153 passengers, along with two pilots and four flight attendants, became the scene of a remarkable event when a baby was delivered on board. EMTs Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell responded to a call for medical assistance and, with the help of a doctor and two nurses on the flight, improvised using items like blankets and a shoelace to aid in the delivery. According to the pilot, both the baby and the mother are doing fine at this time.

(UPDATED April 27, 2026 19:22 UTC)

A woman named Ashley gave birth midair on Delta flight 478, which was traveling from Atlanta to Portland, with the assistance of two off-duty EMTs, Tina Fritz and Caarin Powell, who were returning from vacation. The delivery took place about 30 minutes before the plane landed at Portland International Airport, and after just a few pushes, the cabin erupted in cheers as the flight touched down around 10 PM. The EMTs improvised using items from passengers and a flight attendant, including blankets and a shoelace, after a flight attendant announced the need for medical personnel.