From flight attendant to fighter pilot: Thailand’s Queen Suthida flies Gripen solo

Thailand’s Queen Suthida has added a remarkable achievement to her aviation record by flying a Swedish-made Gripen fighter jet solo for the first time. The flight, completed at a Royal Thai Air Force base in southern Thailand, marks another step in a journey that has taken her from working as a flight attendant to gaining experience in military aircraft and royal aviation.The Queen flew a single-seat JAS 39C Gripen at Wing 7 air base in Surat Thani province on October 8, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn watching the milestone. Before take-off, she attended a briefing on the flight plan and personally checked the aircraft before proceeding to the runway. After she completed the flight, the King congratulated her with a bouquet and a Gripen Order Golden Patch, an insignia associated with flying the fighter aircraft. The achievement stands out because flying a high-performance fighter jet requires specialised preparation and training.