Woman's plane birth nabs her 21 years free flights

One brave mum has welcomed her son mid flight, and in the process bagged him one of the best birthday presents of all time.

Cristina Penton was 36 weeks pregnant and travelling from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas when she began having contractions on the Spirit Airlines flight.

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After initially believing she was having a panic attack, cabin crew were lucky enough to find a paediatrician and nurse on board when it soon became clear Cristina, 35, was having contractions instead.

It wasn’t long before 3.2kg Christoph made his dramatic entrance into the world, with mum seated at the front of the plane with her two children Ramon, 12 and 11-year-old Lulu nearby.

"Everything started happening very quickly," Fox 8 reports Cristina saying.

“I didn't think I was having the baby because it was too soon, but after a few minutes I knew I needed medical attention. Soon after that, it was clear I was having my baby, and I was in pure panic."

With Cristina’s hubby not travelling with the family, passenger Shelley Hedgecock Starks was sitting near Cristina, and managed to capture mum and bub’s precious first moments.

To make up for missing the birth, dad will no doubt be happy with the airline accepting Christoph as “part of the family” and issuing him and his clan free flights for 21 years.

Watch the incredible video above.

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