Birth of baby boy diverts plane to Yellowknife

A KLMAirbus 330made an emergency landing in Yellowknife Thursday afternoon after a passenger went into labour.

Paramedics saidthe woman gave birth to a baby boy while the plane was still in the air.

Earl Blacklock, who is with the territory's Department of Transportation, saidthere were multipledoctorsaboard the flightwho helped deliver the baby.

A paramedicon the scene said the first-time mother, whodidn't speak English,is 19yearsold. She was travelling to meet her husband. He said thebaby was full-term, weighing seven to eightpounds.

The paramedic said first respondersfound the mother between seats in business class.

The mother and newbornweretaken to Stanton Territorial Hospital by ambulance.

Airport officials saidthe KLM flight originated in Amsterdam and was en route to Calgary.

The plane landed in Yellowknife at 1 p.m. local time.The remaining passengers stayed on board, and officials saidthe flight resumed at 2:45 p.m.