Passengers aboard an airliner got to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime moment. On an American Airlines flight headed to the Dominican Republic, one passenger had an emergency that couldn’t wait.
Kendra Rhoden of Hartford, Connecticut, was looking forward to her last baby-free vacation. Speaking with WFSB, she stated, “I thought I was safe to take the early September vacation because my due date was not until Oct. 23.” But it seems her new bundle of joy wanted to have some fun in the sun too. During a mid-flight nap, Rhoden felt her baby kick — and her water broke. Shortly after, she went into active labor. Rhoden’s sister captured some of her new nephew’s debut.
Under her TikTok account, @pinkangel876, the new aunt captioned the video, “Welcome baby air.”
The unbelievable scene, as reported, was like something out of a movie, with Rhoden and her family alerting flight staff that a new passenger was close to boarding the plane.
Thankfully, nurses were on board who could assist in the delivery until the plane could make a safe landing. “Everything just happened so fast, it just happened so quick,” Rhoden told WFSB. The nurses did what they could to assist Rhoden through labor until they landed.
Rhoden shared with WFSB that the nurses were instructing her to not push. They did not see the baby’s head and wanted to minimize the danger for him and Rhoden until proper medical support was available.
But there was no stopping her baby boy, the now new mom exclaimed. “I was like, the baby’s coming!”
Rhoden gave birth to her baby boy in the friendly skies.
As soon as the plane landed in the Dominican Republic, the mom and new baby were rushed to the hospital for evaluation.
At seven months pregnant, Rhoden was six weeks shy of her due date. According to the Mayo Clinic, traveling at 36 weeks pregnant is safe if you have had a generally healthy pregnancy.
Rhoden and her son stayed in the Dominican Republic for a couple of weeks as doctors continued to monitor them.
While the new addition and his mom recovered, Rhoden’s sister continued to post on her TikTok to update followers.
She answered the top three questions people were asking, including, the new baby’s name.
@pinkangel876 The answers you’ve all been waiting for ❤️ #air #airbaby #name #babynames #DominicanRepublicnationality sskymmomssonmotherandson trtrendingyfypdonggggggggyfypシyfypr#trending
She revealed that the baby’s name is Skylen and he is a U.S. citizen. On his U.S. birth certificate, Sklyen’s place of birth is listed as “in the air.”
Additionally, WFSB reported the surprise delivery came with some difficulties, but Skylen and his mom are doing well now.
“I feel good now because I’m home, and he’s safe. He’s where he needs to be right now,” Rhoden told the news outlet. “So, I would say I’m happier than I was in the Dominican Republic.”
