5-Month-Old Critically Injured After Flight Attendant Drops Baby While Disembarking From Plane

A five-month-old baby girl suffered serious head injuries after a flight attendant dropped her while disembarking from the plane. According to reports, the crew member was carrying the baby when the child fell out of her child carrier.

The incident took place at the Boeing 737 steps at Surgut Airport in Russia, the Daily Mail reported. Local media said the girl was critically injured including internal bruising leading to concussion and a broken nose. The child was rushed to hospital after she fell off her carrier at the end of a flight by Pobeda, a low-cost operator owned by state carrier Aeroflot.

The airline issued an apology following the incident adding that an investigation was underway.

"We are very sorry," a spokesperson, clarifying the accident happened on the plane's steps in subzero temperatures after landing, said. "A very careful investigation is being conducted now, and we will inform about the details later... The air carrier will fully compensate all the expenses associated with the treatment of the child."

The Daily Mail reported that the flight attendant, believed to be a male, tried to help the mother who was carrying a lot of luggage. However, he failed to realize the child was not strapped properly into the carry cradle.

An airline source said the attendant "sincerely wanted to help the customer."

While the flight attendant's intention to help the customer did not go as planned, there have been several incidents in the past when crew members have gone out of their way to assist passengers.

In 2018, a flight attendant went the extra mile for a mother who had run out of formula to feed her baby on a domestic flight in the Philippines. According to reports, Philippine Airlines' flight attendant Patrisha Organo breastfed the baby after she heard the infant crying soon after takeoff.