Thailand’s Queen Suthida flew a fighter jet solo for the first time on Thursday (October 8), with King Maha Vajiralongkorn watching from the ground, the Bureau of the Royal Household said.

The Bureau released a video showing Suthida flying a JAS 39 C Gripen from Wing 7 air base in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. The king presented her afterwards with a bouquet and a Gripen Order Golden Patch, a badge given to those who have flown the fighter jet, the Bureau said.

It said Suthida trained at the base over two periods, from August 20 to September 4 and from September 25 to October 8, including on flight simulators, following Royal Thai Air Force standards.

Suthida began flying in May 2010 and has logged about 1,188 hours across several types of aircraft, including Boeing 737s, according to the Bureau. It said she has also served as co-pilot to the king on royal flights, including an official visit to Bhutan in 2025.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SURAT THANI, THAILAND (OCTOBER 8, 2026) (BUREAU OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD – Access all)

1. THAILAND’S QUEEN, SUTHIDA, FLYING A JAS 39 GRIPEN FIGHTER JET

2. SUTHIDA TAKING OFF IN GRIPEN

IN AIR (OCTOBER 8, 2026) (BUREAU OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD – Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF SUTHIDA FLYING GRIPEN

4. POINT-OF-VIEW FROM INSIDE COCKPIT OF FIGHTER JETS FLYING ALONGSIDE

5. ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE PILOT FLYING JAS 39 GRIPEN FIGHTER JET

6. VARIOUS OF GRIPENS IN AIR

SURAT THANI, THAILAND (OCTOBER 8, 2026) (BUREAU OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD – Access all)

7. GRIPENS FLYING PAST OVERHEAD

8. THAILAND’S KING, MAHA VAJIRALONGKORN, WATCHING FROM GROUND

9. VARIOUS OF GRIPEN TAXIING ON TAXIWAY

10. SUTHIDA IN COCKPIT OF GRIPEN

11. VAJIRALONGKORN WATCHING

12. VARIOUS OF VAJIRALONGKORN ATTACHING GRIPEN ORDER GOLDEN PATCH TO SUTHIDA’S LEFT SLEEVE

13. VAJIRALONGKORN PRESENTING BOUQUET TO SUTHIDA AS SHE LIES LOW ON GROUND TO SHOW RESPECT TO THE KING

14. VAJIRALONGKORN AND SUTHIDA POSING FOR PHOTOS NEXT TO GRIPEN

15. BOUQUET ON SUTHIDA’S ARM

16. VARIOUS OF VAJIRALONGKORN AND SUTHIDA INSPECTING GRIPEN

17. VAJIRALONGKORN AND SUTHIDA STANDING NEXT TO GRIPEN IN HANGAR

18. OFFICIAL CLIMBING INTO COCKPIT TO INSPECT

19. SUTHIDA WEARING FLIGHT HELMET

20. SHARK EYE AND JAWS PAINTED ON GRIPEN FIGHTER JET

21. VAJIRALONGKORN CLIMBING LADDER TO COCKPIT WHERE SUTHIDA IS SEATED

22. VAJIRALONGKORN AND SUTHIDA DURING PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION

23. SUTHIDA IN GRIPEN, CANOPY CLOSING

24. SUTHIDA IN GRIPEN

25. SUTHIDA IN GRIPEN PARKED IN FRONT OF HANGAR

26. SUTHIDA TAXIING IN GRIPEN MOVING

27. SUTHIDA TAKING OFF IN GRIPEN