What lands with one more passenger than it takes off with? It's not a riddle - a Southwest Airlines flight landed in Los Angeles with a bonus passenger on Tuesday.
Flight 623 took off at 6:24 a.m. from San Francisco on Tuesday morning and a passenger gave birth shortly thereafter. Ken Marshall, a passenger on the flight, told the L.A. Times that no one realized the woman was in labor until they heard the baby crying.
The woman's husband flagged down a flight attendant and the mother of (now) two children told her, "I just had a baby," Marshall told the L.A. Times. Southwest spokesperson Emily Samuels said a nurse and doctor were on board and assisted with the delivery.
The woman was wearing pants and gave birth in her seat, in an upright position. "It was very shocking," Marshall told the L.A. Times.
Blankets were gathered to swaddle the new arrival and a female passenger produced "beauty scissors" to cut the umbilical cord, according to the L.A. Times. The pilot announced the birth of the baby boy and the cabin cheered, according to L.A. Times.
The Phoenix-bound jet made an unexpected landing at Los Angeles International Airport, according to AP via Yahoo.
Paramedics boarded the aircraft and provided medical care. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said the mother and newborn were taken to a hospital and are in good condition, according to AP.
The aircraft-turned-delivery room was removed from service for cleaning and the other passengers were taken to Phoenix on another plane. Their arrival was delayed by over two hours, according to AP.
Samuels said the airline hopes it has a new customer for life.
