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Afghan refugee heading to UK gives birth at 30,000 feet

Soman Noori was on a flight to Birmingham, having previously left Kabul, when she went into labour

An Afghan refugee fleeing to the UK gave birth to a baby girl at 30,000 feet while on an evacuation flight destined for Birmingham.

Soman Noori, 26, was on a flight from Dubai to Birmingham, having previously left Kabul, when she went into labour, Turkish Airlines said.

With no doctor on board, members of the cabin crew delivered the baby girl, named Havva, or Eve in English.

The airline said both mother and child are healthy.

Reuters Afghan evacuee Soman Noori holds her newborn baby girl named Havva on board an evacuation flight operated by Turkish Airlines from Dubai to Britain"s Birmingham, August 28, 2021Reuters
Mother and newborn daughter on the Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Birmingham

Ms Noori was travelling with her husband, Taj Moh Hammat, 30, and their two other children.

Turkish Airlines said the flight landed in Kuwait as a precaution before carrying on to Birmingham and landing at 11:45 BST on Saturday.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the final UK evacuation flight purely for Afghan nationals left Kabul airport on Saturday afternoon.

Further flights which leave Kabul will have UK diplomatic and military personnel on board.

A mass airlift has been under way since the Taliban took control of the capital, with a deadline of 31 August in place for foreign troops to leave the country.

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 Britain"s Birmingham, August 28, 2021Reuters