Thai Queen piloted a fighter jet

Queen Suthida of Thailand (Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana) has made history as the world's first reigning queen to conquer the skies by single-handedly piloting a high-speed fighter jet from a royal cockpit. This extraordinary solo flight, conducted by her in a 'Saab JAS 39C Gripen' super fighter jet belonging to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), was recorded on October 8, 2026, at the 7th Wing Headquarters in Phunphin District, Surat Thani Province.

With this flight mission officially confirmed by the Royal Thai Bureau, she also became Thailand's first 'Gripen' fighter jet pilot.

On that day, at approximately 10:00 AM, she took to the skies from runway 22 in a single-seat JAS 39C Gripen aircraft belonging to the 701st Squadron, known as 'Shark'. This aircraft, featuring a shark face painting on its nose and a '15 PEACE' tail marking specially noted to commemorate 15 years of Gripen service in the Royal Thai Air Force, was accompanied by two other Gripen aircraft during the flight, and the entire operation lasted 41 minutes. All procedures, including obtaining details of flight plans, personally pre-inspecting the aircraft, and taxiing the aircraft to the runway under supervision, were systematically followed before takeoff. The takeoff and landing occurred while King Rama X, also known as Maha Vajiralongkorn, Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Sakesan (Sekson) Kanthathat, and the Commander of the 7th Wing were observing.

After a successful landing, King Maha Vajiralongkorn presented a bouquet of flowers to the Queen as she disembarked from the aircraft, and the 'Golden Gripen Order' gold embroidered official badge, awarded to pilots who fly a Gripen aircraft solo, was placed on her left arm. Additionally, the royal announcement stated that she was granted full membership in the 'Gripen Order', a Swedish honorary association. Regarding this historic flight, the Swedish manufacturer 'Saab' issued a special congratulatory message, stating that it was a historic flight planned and executed with great skill and precision by Her Majesty and the Royal Thai Air Force, and an occasion that reaffirms Thailand's confidence in its Gripen fleet as well as the long-standing partnership with the Kingdom.

This flight was not merely a ceremonial or short program, but the culmination of a formal conversion course (Fighter-Attack Aircraft Type 20 / Gripen syllabus) undertaken by the Queen at the invitation of the Air Force. This included studying 45 subjects in academic and emergency procedures from June to July 2026, and completing 20 hours of Gripen simulator time. Subsequently, she underwent simulator training under experts at the 7th Wing in two phases (August 20 to September 4, 2026, and September 25 to October 8), and also trained on the 'L-39' advanced jet trainer aircraft. Before transitioning to the single-seat 'C' model, she also completed 10.13 hours of dual flight in a dual-seat 'JAS 39D' aircraft with an instructor. Official sources state that this was the pinnacle of standard conversion training rather than an active combat qualification.

Born on June 3, 1978, as Suthida Tidjai in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province (she was 48 years old at the time of the flight, of Thai-Chinese/Hokkien descent, and known by the nickname 'Nui'), she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Assumption University in 2000. She worked as a flight attendant for 'JALways' from 2000 to 2003 and for 'Thai Airways International' until 2008, before beginning her military career by joining the Royal Guard Command in 2010. Receiving rapid promotions, she was appointed to the rank of General as Commander of the Special Operations Unit in late 2016, and was promoted to the ranks of Admiral and Air Chief Marshal in March 2025. On May 1, 2019, she married King Maha Vajiralongkorn (officially conferred the title on May 4) and became the King's fourth wife, making her the first queen in the modern era to come from a commoner background.

Her piloting career began on May 13, 2010, with a Cessna T-41D aircraft under the 604th Squadron of the 6th Wing in Bangkok. According to the Royal Bureau, she has currently accumulated a total of 1,188.48 flight hours. This includes 315.33 hours on Cessna T-41, 38.35 hours on CT-4E Airtrainer, 105.59 hours on Pilatus PC-9, 98.40 hours on Mooney M-20M, 137.50 hours on Piper PA-34 Seneca, 27.09 hours on Boeing 737-400, 453.11 hours on Boeing 737-800, and 10.13 hours on JAS 39D dual.