Evacuation Flight Returns to UAE after Nigerian Woman Gave Birth Mid-air

Femi Ashekun/

The repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates was forced to return to Dubai today after a Nigerian woman gave birth to a baby mid-air.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the unidentified woman gave birth an hour into the about eight hours flight and the pilots had to return the plane to Dubai to disembark the mother and the newborn.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had said 265 Nigerians would arrive in Lagos from Dubai today as part of efforts to bring Nigerians willing to come back into the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who confirmed the development, said a new Emirates Airlines plane would bring the evacuees to Lagos today.

Dabiri-Erewa said, “Yes. Emirates had to change to another aircraft which is now en route to Lagos with 265 returnees on board. But it cost Emirates a lot. Our Ambassador in Dubai, Amb. Mohammed Rimi and officers at the Mission are in touch with the mum and son. Both (are) doing well.”