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

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