A child born on board an aircraft is eligible. Is it true that if you give birth on an airplane, your child will be given citizenship of all the countries you flew over? How citizenship is assigned

For most people, air travel is always somewhat stressful and anxious, and long distances generally cause mild discomfort for most people. Pregnant women who are nearing their due dates should avoid flying altogether. But, if the flight cannot be cancelled, you should visit a gynecologist and therapist for consultation and instructions. They will tell you in detail what you need to take with you and how to behave on board if labor suddenly begins.

So, it’s no secret that if a child is born in the air, he receives citizenship, but what kind? Citizenship laws are different in all countries, and while one country may grant citizenship immediately, another may not have it so easy or may not have the option at all. So, if a child is born on an airplane, what citizenship will the child receive?

He can obtain one of three citizenships:

  1. The country to which the board belongs.
  2. The country in which the birth took place.
  3. Countries where the plane landed.

Everything lies in the established legislation of each country. In fact, aircraft, especially long distance, several countries can fly through one flight. What happens if a baby is born on an airplane flying over several countries at the same time? Often, the child is assigned the citizenship of the country to which the ship belongs.

Another important and very good bonus is that a child born on board an aircraft has the right to fly for free. This rule is practiced by almost all airlines. This is often accompanied by restrictions, for example, up to 10 flights per year throughout life or until adulthood.

Let's give an example. Great Britain and its territories. If you give birth on a plane, your newborn can only obtain citizenship if his parents are British citizens.

If, for example, in the United States a child was born in water or air space, he automatically receives American citizenship in exactly the same way as if the child is born in American hospitals.

What pregnant women need to take with them

If, however, you are at the last deadline, and the flight cannot be cancelled, what you need to have with you on the plane:

  1. Mobile with contacts of relatives.
  2. Sterile diaper.
  3. A medical card with statements about the course of pregnancy.

All this must be kept to yourself - in hand luggage, but not in luggage. If you wish, you can also buy sterile gloves and cotton wool at the pharmacy, in addition to diapers, but these are often available on board.

If contractions start

If your water breaks during a flight and your contractions become more frequent, you should tell the flight attendant about this. She will tell the captain of the plane about the situation and, perhaps, he will make a decision on an emergency landing at the nearest airport. If permission is not given to board the plane, the birth will take place on the flight.

If the commander nevertheless decides to land the aircraft, the pregnant woman will have to endure it. At the airport, the woman in labor will be met by health workers with everything she needs. If such a chance does not arise, the flight attendants will try to find a medical worker or doctor among the passengers, or they will deliver the baby themselves.

Important! A pregnant woman does not need to worry or be afraid that there is no doctor among the passengers. Flight attendants undergo training regularly, so they will be able to deliver babies on board the aircraft.

Childbirth process

Mothers should remember that they should not be afraid, worried, or nervous if childbirth on board an airplane is inevitable! Everything will happen naturally. The bladder and bowels should be emptied. The woman in labor will be seated in the corner, freeing up space from passengers.

The child was born on a plane from St. Petersburg at an altitude of 10,000 meters

In this case, you will need a sterile diaper, which must be kept with you, but all other medications, as well as iodine, gloves, and scissors are always available on all planes. After the woman in labor is allocated a place, she should relax, stop panicking and concentrate on breathing (short inhale, long exhale).

As soon as the baby is born, using a bandage, the nose and mouth are cleaned and the umbilical cord is cut and tied, 15 cm away from the tummy. It is not recommended for a woman in labor to get up until the end of the flight. After giving birth, you should lie down for another half hour until the entire placenta comes out, and after 15 minutes you can take the newborn to you.

It is important to remember that even if the birth was successful, a medical team will still pick you up upon arrival. A baby born on board a plane must undergo a thorough medical examination, as does its mother, to ensure that they are okay and their lives are not in danger.

A child born on board a Jet Airways plane received a lifelong right to fly free of charge on Jet Airways airliners. This was reported by The Times of India.

Josie Sisimol went into labor on a flight from Saudi Arabia to India at an altitude of more than 10,000 meters. The woman was 30 weeks pregnant. The airliner pilots decided to make an emergency landing. The airliner, en route to the city of Kochi in the southwest of the country, was sent to Mumbai. However, Josie gave birth about half an hour before landing.

Among the passengers on board was a doctor who, together with the flight attendants, came to the woman’s aid. There were no problems during the boy's stay. The woman in labor and her son, who received a lifelong travel pass, were sent to the hospital immediately after the plane landed.

This is the first such case on board the carrier, Jet Airways reports.

It is noted that most airlines allow pregnant women to fly until 36 weeks, but after 28 weeks of pregnancy they require a letter signed by a doctor.

TO THE POINT

In October 2012, on board an aircraft flying from Simferopol to Moscow. The plane of JSC Aeroflot - Russian Airlines made an emergency landing in Kharkov.

During the flight, the woman's water suddenly broke. The birth was attended by crew members and a nurse who was among the passengers. Immediately after landing, the mother and newborn girl were examined by doctors, then they were taken to the nearest maternity hospital.

How to find housing in Thailand: Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Samui, Phuket

December 19, 2019

Let's explain the news: there will be smoking rooms at the airport

December 19, 2019

Transfer: is it worth going into the city during transit?

December 17, 2019

Let's explain the news: how much water does it take to fly from Moscow to Thailand?

December 17, 2019

Import prohibited: you cannot even take an apple with you to Finland

December 16, 2019

Horoscope 2020: how to choose a trip for the signs of the Zodiac

Stories about how a woman gave birth during international flight, and the newborn received foreign citizenship a lot. This happens, but you can’t do without pitfalls. In general, it is not recommended to fly late in pregnancy. But if that’s the case, then we’ll tell you how childbirth on board an airplane actually works.

How to give birth on a plane

The good news is that flight attendants are trained to deliver babies. Therefore, if you find yourself in such a situation, then do not be afraid and breathe deeply. The flight attendants know what to do.

The bad news: even the fastest labor takes an average of 4 hours. Therefore, on a long-distance flight, you risk hitting the jackpot called “giving birth on a plane that is about to land.”

Advice: if you are in the last stages of pregnancy, be sure to take with you on the plane:

  • card with pregnancy statements;
  • sterile oilcloth;
  • cotton wool;
  • sterile gloves.

Before departure, inform the staff about your condition. There is a chance that the pressure drop and general stress level will make you feel unwell. And in exceptional cases, premature birth may begin.

At all, World organization Health recommends refusing to fly in three cases:

  • If the pregnancy is already more than 36 weeks (more than 32 weeks for multiple pregnancies).
  • If pregnancy occurs with complications (pregnancy pathology, threat of miscarriage, etc.).
  • If 7 days have not passed since the birth.

How citizenship is assigned

Now to the legal side of the question: how is citizenship assigned? A child born on board can claim three types of citizenship:

  • Citizenship of the country to which the aircraft belongs.
  • Countries over whose territory the birth took place.
  • Countries where the plane landed.

You can apply for a passport from the state where the plane landed if the laws of that country provide citizenship by “law of the soil.”

"Right of the Soil"- This is one of the principles of acquiring citizenship. It means that a newborn becomes a citizen of the country in which he was born, regardless of the citizenship of the parents.

Another principle is “right of blood". The child receives citizenship according to the citizenship of the parents, and the territory of his birth does not matter. "Right of blood"adhered to by most states.

In 2019, the following countries adhere to the principle of “law of the soil”:

  • Belize
  • Barbados
  • Argentina
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Venezuela
  • Bolivia
  • Grenada
  • Brazil
  • Guatemala
  • Dominica
  • Guyana
  • Dominican Republic
  • Honduras
  • Malaysia
  • Lesotho
  • Colombia
  • Canada
  • Nicaragua
  • Mexico
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Pakistan
  • Paraguay
  • Romania
  • Saint Christopher and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Salvador
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Chile
  • Fiji
  • Uruguay
  • Jamaica
  • Ecuador
  • Trinidad and Tobago

In general, everything depends on the country’s policy. But the most common practice is to obtain citizenship of the country that owned the plane.

Flying by plane is always convenient, fast and high quality, although expensive. However, the plane takes you to serious heights, so it’s no wonder that passengers worry, even the most stress-resistant ones, especially now, when plane crashes occur over and over again. However, this method of transportation is considered the most convenient and safe, despite the stress. It’s another matter if the passenger is a pregnant woman recent months pregnancy. The pressure of flying along with stress can trigger labor, and this has been proven many times. In fact, it is better to avoid air travel. Although, even if the birth takes place in the air, it turns out that this also has its advantages, which we will now deal with.

If a woman gives birth on board an aircraft in the air, her child is subsequently entitled to three nationalities, namely:

  • the baby can become a citizen of the country where the airline on whose plane the birth took place is located;
  • the baby can become a citizen of the country in which he was born;
  • the baby can become a citizen of the country where the plane landed.

Only this decision is made by the airline itself. Typically, a child becomes a citizen of the country whose airline sent him on the plane into the skies where his mother gave birth.

But this is not the only positive aspect of giving birth on an airplane!

A child born on board an aircraft receives the right to fly for free for life! And indeed, this is quite realistic, although no legislation or country talks about such a decision. It’s just that for some time now airlines based around the world have been practicing a similar solution, a bonus, so to speak. Naturally, there are also limitations. For example, a child has the right to take free flights only 10 times a year, no more.

There are actually many cases of children being born on board an airplane, and therefore airlines are taking appropriate measures. By the way, shipping companies are also no exception.

This is all good and positive, of course, but the reality is that no airline encourages giving birth on an airplane. This is understandable, because childbirth does not always go smoothly, and if something happens, there is no proper equipment to save the life of both the mother and the newborn. In view of this, certain companies have introduced some bans in this regard. For example, women who are more than 34 weeks pregnant are not allowed on board the plane, or a woman can board the plane, but only if a specialist is with her. Not all companies practice this, but it exists!

If you are soon preparing to become a mother, it is best to take with you on board the plane:

  • mobile phone, where the contacts of loved ones are indicated;
  • Sterile film, which is sold in any pharmacy;
  • Card with pregnancy statements.
  • Sterile gloves;
  • Cotton wool.

These items may come in handy during the flight, so it's best to keep them in your carry-on luggage. Naturally, you will have to leave your mobile phone. All this stuff takes up little space, so it won’t crowd you out.

How to behave on board

The flight attendant should be aware of your situation and should always come to your aid in case of contractions or when your water breaks to provide first aid and report the incident to the crew commander. She just decides what to do next: land the plane at a nearby airport or deliver the baby during the flight.

In general, it is best in this situation to fly with an invited doctor. But if there is none, and there are no specialists on board, you shouldn’t be upset either. The fact is that all flight attendants, during their training, also took appropriate courses, that is, they will be able to assist in childbirth, if that happens.

It turns out, again, everything depends on the crew commander. If he can land the plane at the nearest airport, then a medical team will meet you upon landing. But here you will have to endure until landing, no matter what the cost. If not, the flight attendants will try to find a specialist among the passengers. If there are no such people on board, then they will cope on their own, since the situation is hopeless.

Childbirth process

The main thing is not to worry or panic, and everything will go well

Nature has made sure that women can give birth even in the most extreme conditions. If you give birth on a plane, try not to be nervous, as this may make the situation worse. First of all, you need to take care to empty your bladder and intestines. Passengers will be seated away from you, creating the most comfortable environment and access to oxygen. Give the sterile film to the flight attendant or doctor who will deliver the baby, as all other medications, such as iodine, gloves, scissors, etc., should be in the cabin anyway. Maintain proper breathing, namely, short inhale - exhale, long inhale - exhale, etc.

So, the child was born. First of all, using a bandage, you need to clean the mouth and nose, and then cut the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is cut approximately 10-15 centimeters from the body. You, in turn, should not rise to your feet. You need to wait for the afterbirth to come out, which will happen in about half an hour.

The most important thing is that the child was born healthy and the mother was not harmed. After landing, they will both be taken to the hospital for examination - this is a mandatory procedure, so there’s no point in getting into trouble.

In general, do you need this risk? After all, it is much more comfortable to give birth on the ground, rather than in the air! Please take note.

According to AFP, a 31-year-old passenger on a flight from Penang to Kuching (Malaysia) on Wednesday, October 21, gave birth to a son when the plane flew over Kuala Lumpur at an altitude of approximately 610 meters.

The birth of the Malay woman was attended by a doctor who was among the passengers and assisted by the crew of the plane. According to the airline, the birth took place without complications. Upon landing, the mother and newborn were taken to the nearest hospital.

According to one of the directors of AirAsia, in honor solemn event the baby and his mother were given the right to fly for free on the company's planes for life, as the first child born on board its plane.

This is not the first case of a successful birth on board an airplane. So, in 2007, one of the women who was on board a Belgian Brussels Airlines plane, which was flying on the Kinshasa-Brussels route, also had a premature birth, which was delivered by two doctors who were among the passengers. Then the newborn girl was named after the crew commander.

At the same time, airlines do not encourage the practice of giving birth on board an aircraft due to the fact that in the event of an emergency, there will be no possibility to resuscitate the newborn. A number of carriers have introduced strict restrictions on the carriage of pregnant women. So Air France and Lufthansa do not allow women more than 36 weeks pregnant to board. And Iberia allows flights for a period of 34 weeks or more only if accompanied by a doctor.