Youngest Lady-Pilot Taking Solo Flight around the Globe

Adventurous Belgian pilot Zara Rutherford has landed, at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, on her lightweight (Shark) aircraft.

She is the youngest female pilot to make a solo flight around the world, crisscrossing through 52 countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as one of the stopping points.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of this event was designed by aviation authorities to shed light on the role of women, in the aviation sector, with respect to empowering Saudi women, in the field of aviation, in line with the Kingdom’s vision 2030.
Upon her arrival, in Riyadh coming from the Emirates, she was received by the Ambassador of Belgium to the Kingdom Dominique Mineur and several Riyadh Airports company and Saudi Aviation Club senior staff.
“I am delighted to have arrived in Riyadh. The flight exceeded all my expectations and gave me unforgettable moments and tremendous challenges, as I enjoyed the wonderful view on flying over Saudi Arabia, where every moment was an exceptional experience,” Captain Rutherford said as she was addressing a special reception to mark the occasion, SPA reported.

“I am striving to achieve my goal of being the youngest woman, in the world to fly solo around the world, and set a record in the Guinness Book of World Records, she explained, in addition to encouraging girls and women to realize their dreams of such a flight, and inspire them to pursue careers, in science, in general and aviation, in particular.”
The professional captain had set out on this brave flight, in August 2021 from Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport, in western Belgium, with her goal in mind to fly over as far as 32,000 miles’ distance across five continents, passing through as many as 52 countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.