Everyone who’s flown more than once probably has a story about which flight was their worst or scariest. Can you think of one? And did the phrase “Is there a doctor on board?” play a role?

Those words were called out on a Spirit Airlines flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Dallas, Texas. Cristina Penton boarded the plane with her two children – ages 11 and 12 – as part of their trip home to Phoenix, Arizona. Dallas was supposed to be the only stop, but Cristina would soon cause the flight to be diverted to New Orleans.

The expectant mom was 36 weeks along in her pregnancy, and started feeling unwell a few minutes after takeoff. She was going into labor! About thirty minutes in, flight attendants were keeping Cristina comfortable after her water broke and the contractions started.

After contacting medical personnel on the ground, the crew asked if there was anyone on board who could help. Luckily, a pediatrician and nurse answered the call for medical assistance. Less than an hour into the flight, Cristina was ready to push.

With the aid of nurse Rhondula Green and the doctor, Cristina gave birth to a healthy baby boy who weighed 7 pounds. In this video, the nurse recounted how it was only a few short moments between the time she put gloves on and when the baby’s head started crowning. All this while in the air!

A fellow passenger asked Cristina if she could record the event on her behalf. Footage seen in the clip shows Nurse Green tying off the baby’s umbilical cord while the pediatrician is checking the baby, whom Cristina named Christoph.

Passengers applauded after hearing the baby boy’s cries, cheering on the amazing work of everyone who helped. They also nicknamed him “Baby Spirit” in honor of his mid-flight birthday.

The plane made an emergency landing at New Orleans’s Armstrong Airport, where a medical crew boarded and had the family transported to a nearby hospital in Kenner, Louisiana. With the baby being so young, doctors advised against allowing him to get on a flight back home, so the family rented a car to drive to Phoenix.

In the spirit of goodwill, Spirit picked up the tab for their rental! To top that off, the Washington Post also reported the airline gifted baby Christoph with a few more things. They presented him with a onesie that says “Born to Fly”, and he’ll receive lifetime flights on his birthday for him and a guest. Spirit also plans to honor the rare in-flight birth with a special sale. Sweet!

Though each airline has its own policy on pregnant passengers and travel, Cristina thought she would be fine since her other two children were carried to full term. But this baby was ready to do things on his own terms! Watch the clip to hear from the nurse, Cristina, and the passenger who filmed this high-flying birth.

With a doubt, Christoph will have the best birthday story to tell for the rest of his life!

What do you think of this surprise birth story? Do you know anyone who had a baby in an unusual place?