After giving birth on a flight bound for LA, a Taiwanese woman could be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars by the insurance company representing China Airlines.
The plane, which had originated from Taipei, was forced to land in Alaska after the went into labour and gave birth mid-flight. Since the incident took place October 8th, speculation has grown that the new mother had deliberately boarded the flight bound for the United States to ensure that her baby would have US Citizenship.
But with the cost of the unplanned stop and the inconvenience to other passengers, it could be that China Airlines chooses to make a claim against the unnamed passenger. Figures as high as $33,000 are being talked about in the Taiwanese media.
‘Birth tourism’ has taken place in the US for many years with women opting to fly to America before their due dates to ensure their children will have US citizenship.
According Alaskan state officials who spoke to CBS News, despite the child being born in international air space, the baby girl will indeed have American citizenship because the US is the first place the child arrived.
According to Zoftr, Taiwan's Transportation Minister Chen Jian-yu said that the mother would likely be liable if she is found to have purposely orchestrated the event. There are also fears that if the woman is not made to pay up, others may follow her example.
It has since been reported that the mother has been deported back in Taiwan, while the baby girl remains in Alaska.
