A woman traveling on board the British Airways flight caused the drama when she went into labor after the plane had taken off on Saturday night.

Unable to reach another airport in time, the baby was delivered mid-air by the cabin crew with the help of two passengers, thought to be medical students.

"The passenger was experiencing some distress. The baby was born shortly before the aircraft landed," a BA spokeswoman said, adding the baby had arrived six weeks premature.

The captain diverted the plane to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, while the cabin crew moved some nearby passengers to make some space on board for the woman.

When the plane landed, the mother and baby were taken to a nearby medical center.

BA says it bans pregnant women from flying after 36 weeks although its staff are trained in birthing procedures.

"It's very rare," the spokeswoman said