British Airways flight from Nigeria is forced to make an emergency landing after woman goes into labour

A plane flying from Nigeria to London had to make an emergency landing on a Spanish island when a woman gave birth in business class.

The 30-year-old Nigerian woman went into labour 36,000 feet up, causing the pilot of the British Airways plane to divert to Palma de Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands.

The woman was 26 weeks into her pregnancy when she went into labour.

The plane touched down and she was raced to hospital with her newborn who had been delivered at the island's Palma Son Sant Joan airport with the help of the cabin crew.

Both the mother and her premature newborn remain in hospital but are said to be stable.

Under BA regulations, pregnant woman can fly on their planes until the end of their 36th week, or 32nd week if carrying more than one baby.