Thailand’s Queen Suthida Makes History With Solo Fighter Jet Flight

Thailand’s Queen Suthida has reportedly become the first reigning queen to fly a fighter jet solo, marking a remarkable milestone in royal and military aviation. The 48-year-old queen completed her first solo flight in a Swedish-made Saab JAS 39C Gripen fighter aircraft on October 8, 2026, at the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 7 base in Surat Thani, southern Thailand.

According to the Thai Royal Household, the flight lasted approximately 41 minutes. Her husband, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, watched the historic flight before congratulating her upon landing.

Queen Suthida piloted the single-seat Gripen fighter jet after completing specialised military aviation training. The flight marked a major achievement in her aviation journey and reportedly made her the first reigning queen to fly a modern fighter aircraft alone.

After she landed, the king presented her with flowers and awarded her a Golden Gripen Order patch in recognition of the flight. The Thai Royal Household also identified her as the country’s first female Gripen pilot.

Before becoming queen, Suthida worked as a flight attendant for Thai Airways. She began her aviation training in 2010 and has since accumulated nearly 1,190 hours of flying experience across several aircraft types. Her experience includes flying Boeing 737 passenger aircraft, and she has served as co-pilot on royal flights alongside the king.

Her transition to a high-performance military fighter jet represents another significant step in her aviation career.

Flying a fighter jet requires specialised training, precise coordination and the ability to respond quickly to demanding situations. Before her solo flight, Queen Suthida completed classroom instruction, emergency-procedure training, simulator sessions and flights in a two-seat Gripen aircraft with an instructor.

According to the Royal Thai Air Force account, her preparation followed the service’s standard training syllabus. She had logged more than 10 hours in the two-seat version of the Gripen before flying the single-seat aircraft alone.

Queen Suthida’s achievement has attracted international attention because of the unusual combination of royal duties and advanced military aviation.

Although she is widely described in news reports as the first reigning queen to fly a fighter jet solo, the distinction has not been independently established through a comprehensive historical record. The confirmed milestone is that she became Thailand’s first female Gripen pilot. Her flight adds another chapter to Thailand’s royal aviation history and highlights her extensive experience as a trained pilot.

Queen Suthida’s solo flight in a Gripen fighter jet is a notable aviation achievement, built on years of flying experience and specialised military training.