Shakeria Martin has become an instant celebrity after she gave birth to a baby girl on a recent Frontier Airlines flight. The new mom woke up from a nap on the flight from Denver to Orlando with intense contractions, resulting in the baby coming earlier than expected.
Martin told TODAY's Sam Brock about her experience on the flight, saying "I was feeling fine and everything and so I went to sleep and I woke up and my contractions were, yeah. The first thought that ran through my mind was this cannot be happening right now. This cannot be, there's no way I could just have this baby on this plane."
While the flight attendants on board the Frontier Airlines flight could not find anyone on the plane with childbirth training, they went to work themselves by gathering the necessary medical supplies. They also ushered Martin to the back of the plane while the pilot arranged for the aircraft to have an emergency landing at Pensacola International Airport.
Captain pays tribute to heroic flight attendant
Flight attendant Diana Giraldo was one of those on the flight to assist with the delivery, with the airline praising her as "exemplary" and "calm." Giraldo said in an interview that she is an older sister herself and so, to her she saw this young woman who was frightened.
Giraldo noted that Martin was uncomfortable and when the expecting mom told her that she was scared there was no comfort. Giraldo said that there was no space inside of her for any doubt and she just had to make sure that she was there for Martin during that time.
Captain Chris Nye issued a statement that was shared by the airline, saying "Diana again went above and beyond after the completion of the flight to coordinate our return to Orlando. The whole crew really did a great job."
Nye added that he transferred controls and flying duties to his First Officer as he coordinated the diversion. Nye said Dispatch did a great job as well by suggesting Pensacola Airport and getting a gate and paramedics ready for them. The captain said that this was a job well done. Motherly reported that Nye was happy to see everyone working together to successfully deliver a newborn on an aircraft.
Martin gives her daughter the name Sky after her delivery mid-flight
According to Frontier Airlines, the mom gave her newborn the perfect middle name which is Sky. Martin is not just the only mother who has given birth in a surprise location in the past week.
A pregnant mom named Heather Skaats gave birth on the side of the road in Kentucky, while her five other children watched from inside the vehicle, on Sunday, May 15. Skaats, who was planning a water birth for her sixth child, had to adjust on the fly. NTD News reported that she squatted on the ground to catch the newborn baby in her hands.
