Nineteen-year-old becomes youngest woman to fly solo around the world

After landing, Rutherford wrapped herself in British and Belgian flags and told reporters, “It’s just really crazy; I haven’t quite processed it.”

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The 19-year-old pilot told reporters at a press conference that she was “so glad” to take on the challenge of flying 32,000 miles by herself.

Rutherford began her journey to traverse the globe by herself in August, which replaced immediately going to university after graduation. “I’m attempting to fly solo around the world as the youngest women ever and become an astronaut,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

Rutherford ran into an assortment of troubles along her trip. Initially planned to be a three-month trip, Rutherford’s journey was extended to five months due to legal and weather problems. At one point, Rutherford’s plane was grounded for several weeks due to weather and visa delays, reported the New York Times. But these delays did not stop the woman from continuing her journey forward.

“The hardest part was flying over Siberia — it was extremely cold, and if the engine was to stall, I’d be hours away from rescue. I’m not sure I would have survived,” she said.

Adapting to life post-flight is going to be difficult, said Rutherford. “It will be very strange to not have to fly every single day anymore or try to fly every single day anymore.” However, the young woman said she was happy to “be in the same spot for a few months.”

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Rutherford broke a record established by the Afghan-American pilot Shaesta Waiz in 2017, who had flown around the world solo at the age of 30. Waiz told the New York Times that she had not expected a 19-year-old to break her record, but “it just goes to show that it doesn’t matter what your gender or your age is; it’s all about determination.”

The youngest pilot to fly around the world is Travis Ludlow, an 18-year-old who did so in July 2021.