Afghan woman gives birth on flight to Britain

Published August 29, 2021
Afghan evacuee Soman Noori, accompanied by her husband Taj Moh Hammat and their sons, holds her newborn baby girl named Havva on board an evacuation flight operated by Turkish Airlines from Dubai to Birmingham, on Saturday. — Reuters
Afghan evacuee Soman Noori, accompanied by her husband Taj Moh Hammat and their sons, holds her newborn baby girl named Havva on board an evacuation flight operated by Turkish Airlines from Dubai to Birmingham, on Saturday. — Reuters

ISTANBUL: An Afghan wom­an on board an evacuation flight to Britain gave birth to a baby girl early on Saturday with assistance from the cabin crew, Turkish Airlines said in a statement.

Soman Noori, 26, started having contractions during the Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Birmingham, and gave birth as the plane flew at an altitude of 10,000 metres (33,000 feet) in Kuwaiti airspace.

Noori and her baby, who was named Havva, were both in good health, the statement said. The plane, which was carrying Afghan citizens who had worked with Britain in Afghanistan, landed in Kuw­ait as a precaution but later continued on to its destination, Turkish Airlines said.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Gaza genocide
06 Dec, 2024

Gaza genocide

THERE is little else one can add to the stark conclusion reached by the Amnesty International secretary general...
Agri tax changes
06 Dec, 2024

Agri tax changes

IT is quite surprising if not disconcerting to see the PPP government in Sindh dragging its feet on the changes to...
AJK unrest
06 Dec, 2024

AJK unrest

THERE is trouble brewing in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where a coalition comprising various civil society organisations...
Failed martial law
Updated 05 Dec, 2024

Failed martial law

Appetite for non-democratic systems of governance appears to be shrinking rapidly. Perhaps more countries are now realising the futility of rule by force.
Holding the key
05 Dec, 2024

Holding the key

IN the view of one learned judge of the Supreme Court’s recently formed constitutional bench, parliament holds the...
New low
05 Dec, 2024

New low

WHERE does one go from here? In the latest blow to women’s rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime has barred...