Woman gives birth at 10,000 feet minutes after take-off

A Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to Phoenix had to make an emergency landing today after a woman went into a labor and gave birth to a baby just minutes after takeoff.

The flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport after the heavily pregnant mother began having contractions at 10,000 feet.

An emergency room nurse and a doctor who happened to be aboard the flight delivered the child – with the help of a very rattled flight attendant.

There were 111 people aboard the plane at the time.

A woman gave birth Tuesday aboard a Southwest Airlines flight shortly after it took off from San Francisco. The plane had to be rerouted to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles (stock photo)

College football coach Charlie Reeve tweeted about seeing the delivery

 A woman says her mother’s friend helped deliver the baby – along with a nurse and doctor who happened to be on board

When the plane landed about an hour after it took off, the new mother and her newborn were met on the runway by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics who rushed them to the hospital, according to KTLA.

Mother and baby are said to be doing well.

Southwest Airlines Flight 623 left San Francisco International Airport about 6.34am on Tuesday, bound for Phoenix Skyharbor International Airport – a flight of about two hours.

Shortly after takeoff, the woman went into labor.