Woman gives birth enroute from Samoa to NZ and abandons baby

Updated March 19, 2009 16:16:07

A woman has given birth on a flight from Samoa to New Zealand without any other passengers or the airline crew noticing, and then disembarked leaving her new born baby in a trash recepticle in the aircraft's toilet, where it was discovered by air crew. The mother and baby have now been reunited, and are recovering in a hospital in Auckland.


Presenter Kerry Ritchie

Speakers: Member of Public Janet Robinson, Member of Public Linda Barrett, Member of Public Mahna Moallhemi

RITCHIE: There were 150 people on board Pacific Blue flight DJ94. One of the passengers - a 30 year old Samoan woman - was heavily pregnant. Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean between Samoa and New Zealand she gave birth in the plane's toilet. When the aircraft landed, the new mother got off with all the other passengers but she didn't take her baby. An hour later a cleaner found the baby in the rubbish bin.

ROBINSON: I don't know how anyone can do that poor little thing hopefully there is a happy end to the story.

RITCHIE: New mum Janet Robinson was waiting at the airport, when she heard that a woman had given birth on board a plane. She can't believe no-one noticed.

ROBINSON: I'm pretty sure someone must have noticed, what about the people next to her. What is it a three hour flight? The air hostesses should have seen it.

RITCHIE: The Samoan woman tried to leave the airport but it's believed she couldn't find her passport. Police were called when airport staff noticed her clothing was covered in blood. The mother and the baby were rushed by ambulance to an Auckland hospital where they're both reportedly doing well. Another woman waiting at Auckland airport Linda Barrett was also amazed at what had unfolded there.

BARRETT: Conceivable yes but very unliley it could happen - some mums do have them very quickly and with no problem at all

RITCHIE: Linda Barrett was here to meet her new grandaughter..

BARRETT: You imagine look, how could you abandon something like you.

RITCHIE: A spokesman for Pacific Blue didn't want to be interviewed. The airline has released a statement saying its policy is that heavily pregnant women need their doctor's permission to fly. It also says that Pacific Blue ground staff are trained to ask women how pregnant they are. Another woman waiting at the airport, Mahna Moallhemi, says the only thing that is clear about this story is that the new mother needs support and help.

MOALLHEMI: Maybe she was trying to have a better life for her child she thought that someone would pick that baby up and give it a better life if you want to give it a positive it could be out of life