Image copyright Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Image caption The emergency crews were on board a Delta Airlines flight with the 25-year-old mum and her baby
A mother and her baby welcomed a surprise arrival on a US plane when she went into labour on board a Delta Airlines flight from California to Georgia.
The mother was later released from hospital.
The flight crew contacted paramedics after the woman went into labour while on a plane bound for Atlanta on Monday, the Las Vegas Fire Department said.
Two people who helped to deliver the baby described the scene as “chaotic”.
They had been taking photos to document their fun, week-long trip from California to Georgia when they spotted the emergency on their Delta flight.
Image copyright Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Image caption One firefighter praised the response from emergency services
Marty Murphy and his friend T.J. Jones were on board the plane, flying from the destination of Burbank, California, to Atlanta.
Mr Murphy said the mother and baby – a boy – were both healthy and the baby weighed just under 4lbs, about 1.5kg.
In a Facebook post, Mr Murphy said he had been inspired by the attention the rescue received from media and social media.
“While we were having a good time documenting the whole thing, we weren’t really in the spotlight, but we were just amazed that not one person was alone in helping deliver the baby,” he wrote.
Another firefighter, who did not want to be named, said he was with one of the paramedics who helped to deliver the baby.
“The first paramedic got there first, before the mother came into the middle of the aisle,” he said.
“They moved her to the window, and a second paramedic came from the back where the mother was lying.”
Image copyright Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Image caption One firefighter praises the response from emergency services
The paramedic had a wrench in his hand, and was pressing against the wall to “make sure there was enough room between me and the infant”.
He said he saw the baby’s legs wobble when the rescuers used the tool to push and stretch his legs.
Image copyright Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Image caption Volunteers helped out in the front of the plane
As the baby’s legs swelled, he said the paramedic used a crowbar to “open up” his legs and pull him towards the emergency response truck, while another paramedic positioned him on his front.
“If they hadn’t done that, the baby would have been in a choking, untethered position and our team would not have been able to perform the medical procedure, because he would have died on the plane,” he said.
“To have one of the first responders who helped deliver the baby there at the time to put his life on the line and ensure the child was safe was just an incredible experience.”
It was the eighth emergency call during the flight and first time rescuers were needed to deliver a baby.
Image copyright Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Image caption Two firefighters took selfies after the rescue
The firefighters also took photos to document the rescue, posting pictures and videos to social media.
Both men said they were touched by the response of airline staff and emergency responders.
The mother and baby were both fine, and later released from hospital.
Following the rescue, Mr Murphy and Mr Jones kept on posting pictures and videos to social media.