BEIJING — Thai Queen Suthida completed the first solo flight in a fighter jet on 9 Oct 2026, piloting a Saab 35 Gripen at the Royal Thai Air Force base in Samut Prakan, a suburb of Bangkok. The flight was part of a ceremony that also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Thai Royal Family’s involvement in the country’s armed forces.
Royal flight marks milestone for Thai monarchy
Queen Suthida, who ascended to the throne in 2019, had been training for the flight for several months under the supervision of senior Royal Thai Air Force instructors. She holds a pilot’s licence for the Royal Thai Air Force, a licence for a helicopter, and a licence for a small aircraft. The Gripen, a Swedish‑made multirole fighter, has been in Thai service since 2015.
The flight began at 10:15 local time with the aircraft taking off from the Samut Prakan runway. The Queen’s flight path was a standard training circuit that included a brief climb to 3,000 feet, a 180‑degree turn, and a descent back to the base. The entire sortie lasted approximately 12 minutes and was monitored by a team of air traffic controllers and safety officers.
During the flight, the Queen maintained full control of the aircraft’s systems, including engine management, navigation, and weapons systems, although no weapons were armed. The flight was recorded by onboard cameras and live‑streamed to a viewing area at the base, where members of the Royal Household and military officials watched the event.
Officials at the Royal Thai Air Force said the Queen’s training included more than 200 hours of simulator time and 30 hours of actual flight time in a Gripen. The training was conducted in accordance with Thai military aviation regulations and the Royal Thai Air Force’s safety protocols.
Queen Suthida’s solo flight follows a tradition of Thai royalty participating in military activities. The Queen’s mother, Queen Sirikit, had flown a helicopter in the 1970s, and the current King, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, has a background in the Royal Thai Air Force. The solo flight is the first time a Thai queen has piloted a fighter jet without a co‑pilot.
The event was covered by several international media outlets, including BBC, AeroTime, AsiaOne, and NDTV. Each outlet reported that the flight was a symbolic gesture of the monarchy’s continued support for the armed forces and a demonstration of the Queen’s personal commitment to national service.
In a statement released by the Royal Thai Air Force, the commander of the Samut Prakan base said the Queen’s flight was “a testament to the rigorous training and professionalism of the Royal Thai Air Force.” The statement also noted that the flight complied with all safety and operational standards.
Queen Suthida’s solo flight is expected to strengthen the public image of the Thai monarchy, which has faced criticism in recent years over its role in politics. The flight also highlights the increasing role of women in the Thai military, a trend that has been growing since the 1990s.
Following the flight, the Queen returned to the base for a debriefing session with her instructors. The debriefing included a review of flight data, discussion of any anomalies, and an assessment of the Queen’s performance. The session was recorded and will be used for future training evaluations.
