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Baby girl receives 1 million air miles after being born on Cebu Pacific Flight to Manila

'We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was then we knew the baby was born,' says a fellow passenger

Matt Payton
Friday 19 August 2016 18:12 BST
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The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in India
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing in India (Facebook/Missy Berberabe Umandal)

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A baby girl has been gifted a million air miles by an airline after being born on a flight between Dubai and Manila in the Philippines.

The baby's mother went into labour fours hours into the Cebu Pacific Air flight, five weeks before her due date.

Fortunately, cabin crew were able to find two nurses able to help with the delivery of the baby, who has been named Haven.

Fellow passenger Missy Umandal, who was seated near Haven's mother, wrote on Facebook: "We only heard one semi-loud screech, and a few seconds later there were tinier, cute screeches, and it was then we knew the baby was born.

"Moments later, the woman got up to go back to her seat, baby in arms (mighty strong, I might say).

"There were two other babies with us in the front row, and one of the passengers had a suitcase full of infant clothes and necessities, which could not have come at a better time."

The plane was forced to land in Hyderabad, India, to provide further medical attention for the woman and her premature infant, reports the Guardian.

Mark Martin, the cabin crew's team leader, subsequently said in a message to Haven: "You are God's miracle at 36,000 feet and we're blessed to have been an instrument in your safe delivery.

"You will always be my most memorable passenger."

Cebu Pacific chief executive Lance Gokongwei announced that Haven will receive one million GetGo poinits from the airline's reward scheme as a birthday present.

According to the airline, the airmiles have no expiry date and can be used by her family.

To earn the same number of GetGo points as Haven has received, a regular traveller would have to spend £83,000 on flights with the airline, the Philippines' largest.

In April, a baby boy was born on a Jetstar Asia flight from Singapore to Yangon in Burma.

He was named Saw Jet Star by his parents in honour of his unusual birthplace.

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