Baby born on Cebu Pacific airplane gets 1 million air miles

Here’s one kid who’ll probably learn to fly before she can crawl.

After being born four hours into a flight from Dubai to Manila, baby girl Haven has been gifted 1 million air mile points.

Haven’s mom went into labor more than five weeks early while flying on an aircraft operated by Philippines carrier Cebu Pacific on August 14.

Two nurses among the plane’s passengers helped with the delivery alongside cabin crew as the pilot diverted to Hyderabad, India to seek further medical assistance.

The budget airline said it’s the first time a baby has been born on one of its aircraft.

Airline CEO Lance Gokongwei said Haven would be awarded one million points on the airline’s GetGo rewards program to celebrate the birth. The points have no expiry date and can be shared with her family.

‘Normal’ flight

Courtesy Shona Owen

In 1990, Debbie Owen gave birth on a British Airways flight from Ghana to the UK. She named her daughter Shona Kirsty Yves -- her initials spelling SKY.

Courtesy Shona Owen

Shona Owen's passport declares that the holder was "born on an aeroplane 10 miles south of Mayfield, Sussex."

Courtesy Shona Owen

Her birth papers also reveal the unusual circumstances of her birth. Being born in the air can lead to complications over nationality.

Courtesy British Airways

Shona Owen says she was "born to travel" and has researched other people who arrived in the world under similar circumstances.

Courtesy Deborah Lowther

During her research Owen came into contact with Debs Lowther, who gave birth to her son Jonathan, just four months before Owen was born, on a British Airways flight from Malawi.

Courtesy Deborah Lowther

Like Shona Owen, Debs Lowther's baby was born with the help of a doctor on board. Most airlines now try to restrict when heavily pregnant women can fly.

Courtesy British Airways

Popular myth decrees that people born on planes are often given free air travel for life, but this rarely happens. Shona Owen was presented with tickets to Australia by British Airways on her 18th birthday.

Courtesy British Airways

Owen has also appeared in advertising for British Airways.

“We are happy that both mother and daughter are doing well, and would like to commend our flight and cabin crew for handling the situation with utmost professionalism and efficiency,” he said. “We also express our sincerest gratitude to the two volunteer nurses who helped ensure the baby’s safe delivery.”

One fellow passenger described on Facebook how Haven’s mom returned to her seat after giving birth during “the most ‘NORMAL’ flight ever.”

“We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later, there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was when we knew the baby was born,” Missy Berberabe Umandal wrote.

“Luckily, she only had to push ONCE. Moments later, the woman got up to go back to her seat, baby in arms (mighty strong, I might say).”

Haven’s arrival, according to Umandal, delayed the flight’s arrival at its destination by nearly nine hours.

“But no complaints,” she added. “Everyone in that plane was blessed.”