Helpful airline passengers sprang into action when a woman gave birth for about 30 minutes while traveling from the US to the Dominican Republic.
Kendria Rhoden, 21 — who was given the green light by her doctors to fly at 32 weeks because her baby wasn’t due until the end of October — sat next to her sister when her newborn decided to take to the world.
At 36,000 feet in the air, Kendria’s waters broke, but thanks to fellow travelers and helpful aircrew, Skylen Kavon-Air Francis was born, weighing just 3lb 7oz.
Despite an initial panic over the baby’s nationality, the embassy confirmed that Skylen is American, as is his mother from Hartford, Connecticut.
Kendria Rhoden (pictured with her newborn), 21, was sitting next to her sister when her newborn decided to take to the world
At 36,000 feet in the air, Kendria’s water broke, but thanks to fellow travelers and helpful aircrew, Skylen Kavon-Air Francis was born, weighing just 3lb 7oz
Kendria described the panic of giving birth in the back of the plane on an American Airlines flight, explaining that it initially started with “cramps.”
“These continued and 34 minutes into the flight my waters broke,” the health worker added. “The cabin crew was such a great help…
“I just remember everyone filming us when we got off the plane and they all congratulated me.”
Her sister Kendalee Rhoden, 26, shared a clip of the incredible story on TikTok in September and the video has since been viewed more than a million times.
Kendria boards the plane while looking into the cockpit. She described the panic of giving birth in the back of the plane on an American Airlines flight, explaining that it started with “cramps” at first.
Her sister Kendalee Rhoden, 26, shared a clip of the incredible story in September and the video has since been viewed more than a million times. Kendria depicted in Kendalee’s TikTok
She said Kendria had been in her seat the entire trip before announcing her waters had broken.
“I was shocked,” she admitted. “I kept asking if she was sure until she got up and the whole chair was soaked!”
Kendalee said she immediately notified her family – who were also on the run – and pressed the panic button when “air hostesses rushed to the crime scene.”
The rest of the plane was soon announced as the pilot “begged” anyone with medical experience to lend a helping hand.
Kendalee praised the surprising ‘miracle’ delivery, adding that it was a shock to everyone as the newborn was not due for another month. Kendria pictured during delivery on the plane
Named for his incredible birth story, Skylen had to spend four days in neonatal intensive care after his untimely arrival. Kendria in the picture in the hospital
“Luckily there were four people who came to my sister’s aid,” Kendalee said. “She was taken to the back of the plane and after an extremely stressful 20 minutes it was announced that we had a new passenger on board, a beautiful baby boy named Skylen.”
Kendalee praised the surprising ‘miracle’ delivery, adding that it was a shock to everyone as the newborn was not due for another month.
Named for his incredible birth story, Skylen had to spend four days in neonatal intensive care after his untimely arrival.
Kendria didn’t know what nationality her new son would be, so once he was released from the NICU, they went to the US embassy to clarify the matter.
When it was confirmed that he had the same nationality as his mother, Kendria explained that it was a matter of Skylen (pictured) getting an emergency passport so he could go home
Kendalee said she immediately notified her family – who were also on the run – and pressed the panic button when “air hostesses rushed to the crime scene.” Skylen in the picture with his father
Kendalee took to her social media to share updates on the story, in a clip that told viewers that Kendria (pictured with her son) had joked about the baby having to drive to the airport in the car
When it was confirmed that he had the same nationality as his mother, Kendria explained that it was a matter of giving the newborn an emergency passport so that he could go home.
Kendalee took to her social media to share updates on the story, in a clip that told viewers that Kendria had joked about the baby having to drive to the airport in the car.
She also shared sweet clips in which the baby, wrapped in a blanket, met the pilot of the plane he was born in.
Commentators on the original TikTok were stunned by the news.
“Now that gives new meaning to the sky,” one user wrote.
“It’s nice, but I’m not going to lie. I would have known my flight was delayed,” wrote another.
Elsewhere, a poster joked, “Not the baby getting AirDropped.”