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Midair birth on Finnair flight raises questions about newborn’s nationality

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Midair birth on Finnair flight raises questions about newborn’s nationality
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Tom Boon Content Manager | Simple Flying

A midair birth occurred on a Finnair flight, showcasing the airline's emergency preparedness. The incident raises complex questions about a newborn's citizenship under the "jus soli" vs. "jus sanguinis" principles. An off-duty firefighter and the onboard flight attendant assisted in the swift delivery, ensuring the mother and baby's health.

Onboard medical emergencies can be very distressing, ranging from cardiac arrests to injuries like the turbulence event on a Singapore Airlines flight last month. But sometimes, they can also be a happy event, such as what occurred on a recent Finnair flight to Paris.

According to Aviation 24, extraordinary events unfolded on Finnair flight OH-LXF (Airbus A320) from Helsinki to Paris Charles-de-Gaulle on Friday morning when a woman unexpectedly gave birth midair. The woman, who was reportedly unaware of her pregnancy, went into labor about an hour before the scheduled landing.

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Despite the unexpected events, the flight continued as planned and safely landed at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, where a medical team was ready to assist the mother and the newborn. An off-duty firefighter and a flight attendant played a crucial role in assisting with the birth. The first responder described the delivery as swift in the plane's restroom. Upon landing, the baby boy and his mother were reported to be in good health.

Like all other airlines worldwide, Finnair ensures its staff are trained to manage various in-flight emergencies and can consult with healthcare professionals via satellite phone if necessary. The airline's policy allows pregnant women to fly up to the 36th week of pregnancy for flights over two hours.

This rare event left the flight with one additional passenger upon arrival in Paris, illustrating the unpredictable nature of air travel. Simple Flying reached out to Finnair but has yet to receive a response.

The concept of citizenship by birth is a complex issue explored in previous discussions, with no easy answers. The debate revolves around two fundamental principles: "jus soli" (right of the soil) and "jus sanguinis" (right of blood). In France, a child born in the country can acquire French citizenship if the family registers their birth at a local courthouse.

Additionally, in Finland, a child automatically becomes a Finnish citizen at birth if at least one of the parents is a Finnish citizen, regardless of place of birth. This means children born to at least one Finnish citizen parent are eligible for Finnish citizenship.

Citizenship is granted based on different principles in some countries. For instance, in the United States, if a child is born on a plane over US territory or within its airspace, they are automatically granted US citizenship based on "jus soli," which confers citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory including its airspace.

On the other hand, the United Kingdom follows "jus sanguinis," where parents' nationality determines citizenship. This means babies born to non-British parents while flying over UK's airspace typically do not acquire UK citizenship.

Organizations Included in this History
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