Breastfeeding Baby Smothered on United Flight From DC to Kuwait

A baby girl died after her mother fell asleep while breast-feeding on a United Airlines jet from Washington D.C. to Kuwait. The woman, 29, awoke after an hour to find the 4-week-old had been smothered.

Cabin crew were alerted by the mother's screams in business class, and the United Airlines jet - over the Atlantic at 33,000ft - was diverted to London's Heathrow for an immediate landing.

A doctor on board the Washington DC to Kuwait flight tried in vain to resuscitate the baby girl.

Police boarded the jet on landing and Scotland Yard's Child Abuse Investigation Team officers are investigating. The mother is Egyptian-born and her girl was American.

A police source said: "This appears to be a tragic accident. The girl comes from a loving family. Her mum was going to Kuwait to show her to relatives."

The UK Association of Breastfeeding Mothers said: "Sitting up in bed while holding your baby is very dangerous, especially if you fall asleep."

Read more on this story at TheSun.com