Baby Delivered at 2,000 feet on AirAsia Flight

AirAsia Flight AK 6506 from Penang to Kuching was blessed with a new member onboard on Wednesday, when a guest, Liew Siaw Hsia, 31, gave birth to a baby boy.

When Liew began to show signs of discomfort while the flight was en route to Kuching, an emergency re-route to Kuala Lumpur was immediately initiated. On the flight was Dr. Ronald Tang, also a guest on the flight, attended to Liew and provided initial medical attention. He was duly assisted by the airline’s flight attendants, who rendered essential support and ensured Ms. Liew’s comfort in preparing for a possibility of delivery on board.

The baby was safely delivered when flight AK 6506 was approaching Kuala Lumpur for landing at 2,000 feet. As soon as the aircraft landed, an ambulance, medical staff and AirAsia ground staff were already waiting to transfer the mother and baby to the hospital. AirAsia also provided an ambulift to facilitate transfer of both mother and baby from the aircraft into the ambulance. They were brought to Putrajaya Hospital for further medical care.

On Thursday (23 October) AirAsia’s Director of Operations Moses Devanayagam, Flight Attendant Manager Jackie Teo and flight attendants visited the mother and child at the hospital to convey their well wishes and announced that they are granted free flights on AirAsia for life.

AirAsia said in a statement that it is very happy to have a first baby delivered onboard its aircraft, and that both mother and baby are healthy and safe.

Moses said, “I would like to congratulate Ms. Liew and wish her all the best of luck. Delivering a baby at 2,000 feet is indeed a very rare experience, and certainly she will cherish the moment forever. To celebrate this momentous occasion, we decided to present both mother and child with free flights for life. We look forward to them flying AirAsia for many years to come.

“I would also like to thank Dr. Ronald Tang for giving Ms. Liew the best care whilst the flight was on course to Kuala Lumpur. Facilitating a birth on a flight is definitely a heroic feat, and we are very privileged to have him onboard,” he concludes.

When contacted by AirAsia yesterday, the hero of flight AK 6506, Dr. Ronald Tang praised AirAsia’s competency in handling the situation.

He said, “AirAsia’s staff did a great job in handling the situation. They were very efficient and helpful. The staff has done something really significant by comforting, reassuring and accompanying the mother at all times. The delivery was blessed with no complications. The mother and baby were safe and immediately transferred to the hospital upon landing. Everything was smooth and efficient. Well done to all!”

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