Southwest flight diverts to LAX after baby born onboard

A Southwest Airlines flight headed from San Francisco to Phoenix diverted to Los Angeles after a woman on board went into labor and delivered a baby, according to Los Angeles TV station KTLA.

Southwest spokeswoman Emily Samuels tells KTLA that the woman gave birth "slightly" after takeoff on Southwest Flight 623, which departed San Francisco at 6:24 a.m. PT. The flight was scheduled to land in Phoenix at 9:25 a.m. local time. Instead, the aircraft diverted to Los Angeles, where it landed at 7:38 a.m. local time, according to KTLA.

In a fortunate coincidence for the new mother and her baby, a nurse and doctor were among the passengers on Flight 623 and assisted with the delivery, KTLA reports. Paramedics took over after the flight landed at LAX, Samuels says.

The mother and baby were taken to a local hospital and were reported to be "doing fine," LAX spokeswoman Amanda Parsons tells KTLA.

Flight 623 eventually continued to Phoenix, arriving at 11:59 a.m. local time, according to Southwest's website.