Meet Thailand's Queen Suthida, the world's first reigning queen to fly a fighter jet solo

Thailand's Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, the world's first reigning queen to fly a fighter jet solo, has distinguished herself in aviation, military service and competitive sports.

The 48-year-old queen made aviation history on Oct. 8 when she completed her first solo flight in a Swedish-made JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet at Wing 7 air base in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand.

The 41-minute flight made her Thailand's first female Gripen pilot and the world's first reigning queen to fly a fighter jet solo, according to British newspaper The Telegraph.

After landing, Suthida was greeted by her husband, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 74, who presented her with flowers and personally pinned a gold-embroidered Gripen Order Golden Patch to her left sleeve. The insignia recognized her successful solo flight and admission as a full member of the Swedish Gripen Order.

The achievement marked another milestone in an aviation career that began more than a decade before she became Thailand's queen.

From flight attendant to fighter jet pilot

Born on June 3, 1978, in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand, Suthida graduated from Assumption University in Bangkok with a bachelor's degree in communication arts.

She began her professional career as a flight attendant for Japan Airlines from 2000 to 2003 before joining Thai Airways International, where she worked until 2008, according to Thailand's Government Public Relations Department.

She subsequently entered royal security service, rising through the military ranks to become deputy commander of the Royal Security Command with the rank of general in 2016. In 2017, she was appointed deputy chief aide-de-camp to King Maha Vajiralongkorn while continuing to serve as deputy commander of the Royal Security Command, holding the rank of special general.

She married the king on May 1, 2019, just days before his coronation, and received her full royal title, Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, on May 4.

Her aviation training had begun years earlier. On May 13, 2010, she flew a Cessna T-41D military training aircraft at Wing 6 in Bangkok, according to Thailand's Bureau of the Royal Household.

She subsequently underwent further training in Thailand and abroad, gaining experience with military and civilian aircraft. Her qualifications include commercial pilot licenses and a Boeing 737 type rating. By October this year, she had accumulated more than 1,188 flying hours across different aircraft types, including more than 450 hours in the Boeing 737-800.

She has also served as co-pilot alongside the king on official overseas visits. In April 2025, King Maha Vajiralongkorn piloted the royal aircraft to Bhutan and back, with Suthida serving as co-pilot on both journeys. They repeated the arrangement during their September 2026 state visit to Vietnam, with the king serving as captain and Suthida as first officer on their flight to Hanoi.

In June, she began specialized fighter jet training with the Royal Thai Air Force. The program included 45 academic and emergency-procedure subjects, 20 simulator sessions and 10 hours and 13 minutes of supervised flying in a two-seat JAS 39D Gripen.

She underwent practical training at Wing 7 air base in southern Thailand between August and October under the supervision of Royal Thai Air Force instructors. Her training culminated in the historic solo flight on Oct. 8.

Just six days later, she returned to the cockpit, this time piloting a royal Boeing 737-800 from Bangkok to Japan. On Oct. 14, she flew for approximately seven hours from Don Mueang Military Airport to New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido for a visit connected to the International Ice Hockey Federation's Women's Asia Championship in Sapporo.

She also piloted the aircraft on the return journey to Thailand on Oct. 22, completing an approximately eight-hour flight.

Sporting passion

Beyond aviation, Suthida has pursued several sports, including sailing, ice hockey, cycling and long-distance running.

In December 2025, she helped Thailand win a sailing gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, held in her home country. Competing in the mixed keelboat SSL47 event off Pattaya, she served as navigator and strategist aboard a 14-meter sailboat alongside nine other crew members.

Ice hockey is another of her interests. In October 2023, she took to the ice during the opening of the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena in Chiang Mai Province. A year later, she joined Thailand's national team for a friendly ice hockey match against China in Bangkok, according to the Thai government's Public Relations Department.

She also serves as the International Ice Hockey Federation's first global ambassador for women's ice hockey, a role she took on in 2023. Her involvement has taken her to international sporting events, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and the Women's Asia Championship in Japan.

Running is another of her pursuits. In December 2024, she joined Kenyan marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge for the final 10 kilometers of the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok. A year later, she completed a half-marathon in Bangkok alongside Kipchoge, recording a time of two hours, 13 minutes and 40 seconds.

Alongside her aviation and sporting activities, she carries out royal duties supporting Thai cultural heritage, traditional handicrafts and silk production.

According to the Thai government, she has continued the work of Queen Sirikit, the late queen mother, in preserving traditional crafts and supporting local communities.