Samoan woman has been charged with child abandonment

[HURAKAN]

Newborn 'left behind' on NZ plane

New Zealand police are investigating whether a woman abandoned her baby after giving birth aboard a flight to Auckland from Samoa, officials say.

Initial reports say the woman, believed to be a 30-year-old Samoan, left the baby on the plane upon landing.

The baby was found by an airline worker in a toilet compartment more than an hour later, local media reported.

Mother and child have since been reunited and are being cared for in hospital, an airline statement said.

"A female guest gave birth on board our flight DJ94 from [the Samoan capital] Apia to Auckland this morning," according to the Pacific Blue airline.

The flight - carrying 150 passengers - arrived at 0520 on Thursday (1620GMT on Wednesday), it said.

"We are relieved to have been informed that both mother and child are reunited, are well and are now being looked after in hospital," it said.

Advanced pregnancy

The woman was trying to exit the airport but had misplaced her passport, New Zealand TV quoted airport sources as saying.

When she sought the help of the authorities, they noticed she was pale and her clothing was blood-stained.

The newborn was found shortly afterwards by an airline worker. One source said the baby was found in the toilet rubbish bin.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the other passengers or crew on the flight were aware that the woman was in labour.

Pacific Blue says passengers who are more than 36 weeks pregnant must have medical clearance to fly.

Police said they were investigating whether the airline had been advised the woman was in an advanced stage of pregnancy.
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[O Town]

Why would they have given this child back to the mom, its obvious she was trying
to abandon it.

[HURAKAN]

Charges in NZ airliner baby case

A Samoan woman has been charged with child abandonment after giving birth on a flight from Samoa to New Zealand and leaving the baby in an aircraft toilet.

The 29-year-old unnamed woman gave birth after the plane took off from Apia and left the baby in a rubbish bin before leaving the plane in Auckland.

Child abandonment comes with a possible prison sentence of up to seven years.

The mother was reunited with the baby, Grace, in hospital, but is in the care of social welfare services.
“ Nobody else was aware that she was in labour prior to the flight ”
Detective Inspector Mark Gutry

The mother may also be facing a fine of up to NZ$100,000 (£57,000) and another seven years in prison for allegedly failing to reveal the fact she was pregnant, which is illegal under New Zealand's Immigration Act.

The woman was ordered to be placed in police custody by a court on Wednesday and is due to appear in court again on 9 April.

"It's not certain when the mother went into labour, and nobody else was aware that she was in labour prior to the flight," Detective Inspector Mark Gutry was quoted by AP.

Immigration officials are examining information provided by the woman on her visa application and how she boarded the plane at such an advanced stage of pregnancy, said a spokesman for the Pacific Blue airline.

Airport staff became suspicious when they noticed her blood-stained clothing as she tried to leave the airport in Auckland.

It has not yet been decided whether the child will be classified as a New Zealand or Samoan citizen.

Pacific Blue, the airline involved, says passengers who are more than 36 weeks pregnant must have medical clearance to fly.

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