Emirates airline has confirmed that one its planes had an emergency stopover in Vietnam last week to allow a mother and baby to disembark after the baby was born on board its flight to Manila.

The premature baby was born on Wednesday August 22 to a Filipina mother. The parents have named the baby ‘EK’ after the airline’s flight code.

"Emirates confirms that its flight EK332 from Dubai to Manila on August 22 was diverted to Ho Chi Minh City due to the birth of a premature baby on board. The mother and baby were transferred to a hospital," the Dubai-based airline said in a statement.

But will EK get to travel free on the airline? Emirates has so far not responded to the question.

Sources in the airline industry say people’s belief that airlines offer free lifetime travel for babies born on their flights, is nothing but a myth. 

“It depends on the airline’s goodwill. But you don’t see much of it these days,” said an official from Ethiopian Airlines.

Media reports had earlier said  the Filipina mother, identified as ‘Nedz’, was traveling to Manila for delivering the baby in her home town.

Two Filipina nurses on the flight helped the mother deliver the premature baby. While the condition of the mother is said to be stable the baby continues to remain in critical care, media reports said.

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