Thailand’s Queen Suthida has completed her first solo flight in a Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet, taking to the skies over Surat Thani in southern Thailand on October 8.
The 48-year-old Queen reportedly spent weeks preparing for the flight, including accumulating around 10 hours in a two-seat Gripen before flying the single-seat fighter solo.
Following the flight, King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented her with a bouquet and the Gripen Order Golden Patch in recognition of her achievement.
From Airline Cabin Crew to Fighter Jet Pilot
Queen Suthida first qualified as a pilot on May 13, 2010, flying a Cessna T-41D aircraft at Wing 6 in Bangkok. Before marrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn in 2019, she reportedly worked as a Thai Airways flight attendant.
Since then, she has accumulated nearly 1,190 flying hours across various aircraft. She has also served as the King’s co-pilot on royal journeys and helped land a royal aircraft at Bhutan’s challenging Paro Airport in April 2025.
Her latest achievement adds a fighter jet to her aviation experience, marking a notable milestone in her flying career.
