Baby Born on KLM Flight Goes Home
K.L.M. Banal will always have a story to tell about his birth. He was born on a KLM airplane. His full name is Karl Lorenz Martin Banal, born to Betchel Banal.
Betchel was on her way home to the Philippines last October 24 when two hours after taking off from the Amsterdam airport, she experienced labor pains and her water bag broke while the plane was over Europe….
Luckily, Filipino doctor Anthony Roland Golez, and KLM’s alert cabin crew assisted her.
“I told Dr. Golez that if it’s possible for me to hold the delivery until we reach Manila because I didn’t want to inconvenience the other passengers. But it wasn’t possible,” Betchel said.
The pilot diverted the flight to Alamaty, Kazakhstan.
Mother and baby arrived today on a KLM flight (of course) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Both are well, and mom is thankful to KLM for all their help. However, in case you’re wondering, Baby Karl won’t be getting free KLM flights for life.
[Source: Inq7; Image: Metroblogging Manila]
Tags: KLM baby, KLM, airplane baby
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POSTED IN: News and Events, People
November 2nd, 2006 at 10:15 pm
that is a very unique way of giving birth. my question are …
a.) when the baby was born inside the plane, where was the plane? was it still in Amsterdam airspace or international air space? If the plane was diverted to Kazakhstan will the nationality of the baby be of that country?
b.) why did the airline accepted the pregnant woman when she is more than 7 mos. pregnant?
c.) why did the mother board the plane when she knows that she is already in the last mos of her pregnancy?
its good the name of the baby is not after the name of pilot.KLMB the baby’s initial will now be part of KLM’s history. i am sure they have taken photos of this and will be posted in their inflight magazine.
Welcome to this world KLMB!!
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:14 am
Baby Karl is a Kazakhstani citizen just like the funny character “Borat” who has a new movie coming out soon. The mom looks petite and maybe her pregnancy was not obviously big and was not questioned about it at all when she boarded the plane. Is she a single mom? I have not read anything about the father or a father’s name being mentioned in the article. She probably has her own personal reasons with the urgency to go back to Manila heavy with a child in her womb. Congratulations to her and her new baby! I see the mom as a very strong willed and courageous Pinay by her looks and attitude towards the whole situation.
November 3rd, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Hi Mel and Noypetes,
Some of your questions are answered in the original Inq7 article.
* The plane was already on the ground in Kazakhstan, and they were preparing to take her to the hospital. But the baby couldn’t wait to arrive, so it all happened inside the plane.
* “KLM allows expectant mothers who are 32 to 34 weeks into their pregnancy to board its aircraft, “unless they’ve had prior incidents such as a miscarriage.” “. My guess is that she had a doctor’s permission and no previous problems with her pregnancy so she was allowed to board.
* As for the father: “Karl’s Filipino father and Betchel’s family are all in Cagayan de Oro”.
* Bethel was midway into her year-long studies in Amsterdam when she realized she was pregnant. I think she wanted to give birth in the Philippines, so she went home in her 7th/8th month. Unfortunately, the baby came early. But they’re both fine, so it’s all well in the end.
* Lastly, Bethel was told that her son could be either Dutch or Russian in citizenship, but she opted for Filipino, instead. :)
Whew, that was long. Hope that answers your questions, guys. :)
November 6th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
maricar,
i consulted the lawyers where i am working part time and they told me if the baby was born inside the plane even if the plane is in Kazakhstan, the baby cud get the nationality of the plane, which is i am sure KLM is under the flag country of the Netherlands.well, at any rate the mom decided to give the Filipino nationality to the boy is well and good. likewise, the info that KLM will not give free pass to the baby that was born in the plane, accdng to the PR office of the airline that i worked with based in chicago, the airline industry is trying to discourage this kind of thing. because if KLM will give free pass to the baby born inside the plane, they are inviting more prospective pregnant women. the only famous person that i know who was accorded and given a lifetime pass for two anywhere KLM fliesis Mother Teresa of India.tks also for the reply, it did not bother me even if its long! more power. any news from ur sistah in Firenze? i am waiting for the pics!
November 7th, 2006 at 12:51 am
Guess Karl will become a pilot when he grows older! ;-)
December 21st, 2006 at 9:50 am
i was on the flight when the baby was born
and i just wish them all the best.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:36 pm
I was googling for filipino blogs in holland and I came to this post, what an interesting way to give birth, lol.
Anyway, re: citizenship… many countries do not follow the “if you are born in country so and so then you automatically become a citizen of the said country”. In America yes, but not in many countries.
For example, since this is KLM, under the Dutch flag — In the Netherlands, by law, you cannot get Dutch citizenship -even if you were born in this country, if your parents (and in the first instance, the mother), is a Dutch citizen.
December 21st, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Ooops typo, I mean —-
In the Netherlands, by law, you cannot get Dutch citizenship -even if you were born in this country, if your parents and in the first instance, the mother is not a Dutch citizen.
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:28 pm
Hi Dougie,
That must have been an exciting time for all the passengers. :) The baby’s well so it’s all good.
Hi Dutched Pinay,
Thanks for clarifying that for us.
Glad to have you guys stop by our blog, and we hope you continue to share your thoughts with us.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:36 am
I am 7 months pregnant and was told by Qantas Airline that if I want to travel and coincidentally my baby were to be delivered on plane and the plane would have to make an emergency landing, I would have to come up with all the extra costs which would be very high. Could anyone tell me if it is true? Thanks!