Thread: Woman who gave birth on China Airlines flight wanted to deliver baby in US airspace

Mum of baby born on flight liable: Transport Minister

TAIPEI, Taiwan - The mother of a child delivered last week on a US-bound China Airlines (CAL) flight will likely be liable for the costs of diverting the flight, Transportation Minister Chen Jian-yu said yesterday

At an interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan, Chen said that the mother, surnamed Jian, would likely have to pay for the costs of disrupting the flight schedule caused by her going into labour.

"Compensation (to CAL) will likely be inevitable," said Chen.

The mother's insurance company is currently calculating the costs of her childbirth, said the airline.

CAL stated that if pregnant passengers fail to provide proper medical clearance, deceive the company's staff and thereby cause the flight to be diverted, insurance companies are required to pay compensation for passengers found liable.

According to global airline flight insurance rules, coverage includes the additional cost of emergency landings due to passengers' health issues, said CAL.

Mother Must Pay the Price: Lawmakers

Diverting to an airport in Anchorage, Alaska cost the airline millions of (New Taiwan) dollars and affected 200 passengers, Kuomintang Legislator Lo Shu-lei claimed.

Lo raised questions over CAL's responsibility, questioning why it even allowed her to board the plane in the first place.

According to Lo, the government is CAL's largest shareholder and the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) should demand that the airline collect compensation from the woman.

Both the MOTC and the airline need to ensure nothing like this happens again, said Lo.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Yeh Yi-jin warned of wider repercussions, such as problems that might arise if more pregnant women follow suit. Yeh criticised CAL for earlier framing the event as a heart-warming story.

Chen said in response that security measures need to be stepped up and he would not encourage such behaviour.

At present, there are no restrictions in place to prevent similar scenarios, but if similar cases appear in the future, passengers should be liable for the additional costs, Chen said.

Chen stated that according to international regulations, up until the 33rd week of pregnancy, pregnant passengers do not need airline approval before boarding flights. If flying between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy, special medical clearance is required, as well as permission from the airline. For those over 36 weeks pregnant, airlines have the right to refuse travel.

Before boarding an overseas flight on Oct. 7, Jian lied about how long she had been pregnant to airline staff, according to CAL's statement yesterday. Jian delivered her baby on the flight, and the plane diverted to Anchorage to bring the mother and child to a hospital, before the plane continued its journey to Los Angeles.

Controversy heated up after a former flight attendant, surnamed Chen, reportedly claimed Jian repeatedly asked, "Have we reached American airspace yet?" while in labour.

- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/mu....mD0bbdU2.dpuf

The behavior of our immigration officials becomes more stunningly stupid with every article that's posted about them. This child was not born in the United States, this child was born on a China Airline while in flight, which is under the jurisdiction of China, not the United States.

According to Alaska Dispatch News, Sarana Schell, spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said in an email Thursday afternoon that under state statutes on birth registration, the child is eligible for an Alaska birth certificate, regardless of the state’s 12-mile territorial limit.

“(A) child born in international airspace and then brought into (Alaska) will have her or his birth registered here,” Schell said. “It doesn’t hinge on how far out the child was born, it hinges on him or her getting out of a moving conveyance here.”

Schell stated that the only remaining procedure for the child to become an American citizen is for the parents to file an application, which costs US$30 (NT$960).

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

According to Alaska Dispatch News, Sarana Schell, spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), said in an email Thursday afternoon that under state statutes on birth registration, the child is eligible for an Alaska birth certificate, regardless of the state’s 12-mile territorial limit.

“(A) child born in international airspace and then brought into (Alaska) will have her or his birth registered here,” Schell said. “It doesn’t hinge on how far out the child was born, it hinges on him or her getting out of a moving conveyance here.”

Schell stated that the only remaining procedure for the child to become an American citizen is for the parents to file an application, which costs US$30 (NT$960).

Schell can give them a birth certificate but that doesn't make them a US citizen unless they forge the certificate. The child was not born either in the United States nor under US jurisdiction. Alaska only has the authority to issue a falsified birth certificate. Alaska does not grant US citizenship. Therefore because the child is not a US citizen, except under the imagination of liars and incompetents, this whole story is nothing but a sensationalized ruse.