Citizenship Rules For Babies Born On Airplanes, Or The Skyborns: What You Need To Know

Davy Owen, who was seven months pregnant, found herself in a similar situation when she went into labour while travelling with her four-year-old daughter. She was travelling from Ivory Coast to London and her husband was not with them.

During the flight, Owen suddenly started experiencing labour pain and gave birth to a son. She mentioned that she had travelled with proper medical advice, as her doctor had assured her that there was no immediate risk of childbirth. Nonetheless, she went into labour during the flight and delivered the baby on the plane.

Davy was very anxious due to the labour pain, hoping to reach a hospital in London soon. However, the pain intensified. A Dutch doctor on the plane assisted her in delivering the baby. When the child was born, the plane was close to the British border.

The Skyborn

Now 28-years-old, the child is named Shona. She is one of about 50 people globally known as Skyborn, individuals born in the sky. It’s worth noting that giving birth on an aeroplane is rare due to lower oxygen levels, which can make it difficult for the newborn to breathe.

Additionally, in case of complications or the need for an emergency C-section, high-tech medical equipment is not available. For these reasons, some airlines do not allow pregnant women to travel after 27 weeks, while others permit travel up to 40 weeks with a medical certificate.

Determining Citizenship At 36,000 Feet

So, what citizenship does a child born at an altitude of 36,000 feet receive? According to experts, there is no universal rule. Generally, the country of the plane’s registry is considered the plane’s territory.

• Most countries grant citizenship based on lineage, meaning the child will be a citizen of the parents’ country.
• However, a 1961 agreement helps resolve disputes by stating that the child should receive the airline’s country’s citizenship.
• The US State Department has a unique rule: if a child is born in international waters, the place of birth should be listed as the sea. If born on a plane, the child is considered an ‘air’ baby.

Gifts From The Airlines

The birth of a child on a plane is often good news for both the parents and the airline. Airlines can leverage this for promotional purposes.

Virgin once gifted a child free flights until the age of 21 because the child was born on their plane. Similarly, British Airways sent Shona, born on their plane, two tickets on her 18th birthday, which she used to visit her grandmother in Australia.