A routine Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland, Oregon, turned into an emergency delivery room in the sky when Tennessee passenger Ashley Blair went into labor mid-flight and gave birth to her daughter just minutes before landing. It all happened with the help of two off-duty paramedics who were on board.
The baby, Brielle Renee Blair, arrived about two weeks early on the April 24 flight after Ashley began experiencing strong contractions roughly 30 minutes from Portland International Airport. The aircraft was carrying about 153 passengers when the medical emergency unfolded.
Passengers, prepare for motherhood
A Tennessee mom gave birth mid-flight just moments before landing. Ashley Blair was on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland when she went into labor about 30 minutes before landing.https://t.co/DtkPGVhPSf
— News 5 WCYB (@news5wcyb) April 28, 2026
According to the Associated Press, two paramedics, Tina Fritz and Kaarin Powell, were traveling together after a vacation in the Dominican Republic when flight attendants asked them to check on Blair. Incredibly, they were already assisting with a separate medical issue involving another passenger when flight attendants called them to the back of the plane.
Once they assessed Blair, the situation escalated quickly. Fritz told reporters that the crew and passengers worked together to clear space around the seat and prepare for delivery. With no obstetrical kit available, the paramedics improvised using blankets collected from passengers. They also used a shoelace to secure the umbilical cord, and Powell used one of her own shoelaces as a tourniquet to start an IV for the mother.
Luckily, Blair delivered her baby after just a few pushes as the plane was on final approach. Flight attendants initially urged the medical responders to sit for landing, but the paramedics continued working until the delivery was complete
“Mom was a rock star,” Fritz told the Associated Press, describing Blair’s calm demeanor during the emergency.
When the pilot asked everyone to be seated, Fritz added, “We’re like, ‘No! No!’” Blair pushed, and the baby arrived. “Baby pinked up right away. She was gorgeous,” Fritz said.
Mom and baby are fine
After landing, Portland Airport Fire and Rescue personnel met the aircraft and confirmed that both the mother and newborn were stable. Delta Air Lines issued a statement thanking the flight crew and the volunteer medical professionals, saying it was grateful for those who stepped in to assist during the emergency. The airline also reiterated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority.
Blair had been traveling to Oregon to be with her own mother for the birth, but went into labor before she could arrive. Her granddaughter, Brielle, joined the flight just before touchdown, giving Grandma, it can only be assumed, quite a surprise at the terminal.
