KEY POINTS

  • Three babies were born during the U.S. Afghanistan evacuation operation
  • An airman commander saved an Afghan mother by increasing air pressure in the plane as she went into labor
  • The children are not eligible for U.S citizenship

At least three babies have been born in the middle of the United States' evacuation operation in Afghanistan, a top U.S. military official said during a press briefing Monday.

Gen. Steve Lyons, the commander of the U.S. transportation command, said his data shows there were a total of three babies who have been born as the U.S. military continues to transport more and more Afghans out of the Taliban-governed country. One of the babies was born on a U.S evacuation flight to Doha, Qatar, as it touched down at Ramstein Air Base in Germany over the weekend.

The Afghan woman, who was not named, went into labor aboard an Air Force C-17 transport aircraft and began experiencing complications.

The aircraft commander decided to descend in altitude to increase air pressure in the plane, a move which helped save the mother's life, the Air Mobility Command said in a Twitter post. The pregnant woman's blood circulation at a lower cabin pressure in the plane can increase the risk of blood clots.

As the aircraft landed, airmen from the 86th Medical Group helped deliver the child in the plane's cargo bay.

"The baby girl and mother were transported to a nearby medical facility and are in good condition," the Air Mobility Command wrote in an update on Facebook.

"I really appreciate the news reporting on the baby being born as that flight came into Ramstein back there," Lyons told the press, CNN reported.

"There's actually been more than that, so it's just an incredible operation ongoing. Just impressive work by our Airmen."

Lyons didn't disclose details on when or where the other two infants were born.

According to the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs Manual and Handbook, the children are not considered Americans as they are not eligible for U.S. citizenship.

"A U.S.-registered aircraft outside U.S. airspace is not considered to be part of U.S. territory. A child born on such an aircraft outside U.S. airspace does not acquire U.S. citizenship by reason of the place of birth."

An Afghan woman went into labour on a US Air Force flight and gave birth to a baby girl in the plane's cargo bay moments after landing at a base in Germany
An Afghan woman went into labour on a US Air Force flight and gave birth to a baby girl in the plane's cargo bay moments after landing at a base in Germany US AIR FORCE / -
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