In her bid to become the youngest female pilot to make a solo flight around the world, Belgian national Zara Rutherford landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh Thursday on a lightweight aircraft. Saudi Arabia's hosting of this event was designed by aviation authorities to shed light on the role of women in the aviation sector, with respect to empowering Saudi women in the field of aviation in the Kingdom in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The 20-year-old arrived in Riyadh from the United Arab Emirates. She was received by Ambassador of Belgium to Saudi Arabia Dominique Mineur, and a number of Riyadh Airports Company and Saudi Aviation Club officials. During a special reception to mark the occasion, Captain Rutherford said: "I am delighted to have arrived in Riyadh. The flight exceeded all my expectations and gave me unforgettable moments and tremendous challenges, as I enjoyed the wonderful view when flying over Saudi Arabia, where every moment was an exceptional experience". She added: "I strive to achieve my goal of being the youngest woman in the world to fly solo around the world and set a record in the Guinness Book of World Records, in addition to encouraging girls and women to realize their dreams of such a flight and inspire them to pursue careers in science and aviation". The professional captain had set out on her Shark aircraft in August 2021 from Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport in western Belgium, with the goal of flying a distance of 32,000 miles across five continents, passing through 52 countries, including Saudi Arabia. — SPA
