Sentence Handed Down in Death of “Plane-Born Miracle Girl”

Published on: January 8, 2026

Sentence Handed Down in Death of "Plane-Born Miracle Girl"

OTTAWA — The mother of the child famously born aboard an international flight in 2015 has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the girl’s death. Ada Guan, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of her five-year-old daughter, Chloe Guan-Branch.

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Table of Contents

Background of the Case

Chloe Guan-Branch first made headlines as a “miracle baby” when she was born unexpectedly over the Pacific Ocean on an Air Canada flight. However, her life ended in tragedy in May 2020.

Police were called to an Ottawa residence where they found the child unresponsive. An autopsy later revealed a gruesome reality: Chloe had suffered a ruptured bladder caused by blunt force trauma and had sustained multiple other injuries, including broken ribs and cigarette burns.

The Legal Findings

The court proceedings detailed a “nightmare” environment for the young girl:

Failure to Protect: While Guan did not directly inflict the fatal blow, she admitted to watching her daughter suffer for days without seeking medical help.
The Motive for Silence: Prosecutors argued that Guan and her partner, Justin Cassie-Berube, avoided hospitals to prevent authorities from discovering the child’s extensive bruising and signs of long-term abuse.
The Co-Accused: Justin Cassie-Berube was sentenced earlier to 14 years for manslaughter and assault causing bodily harm.