Queen Suthida Takes to the Skies in Gripen as Floodwaters Disrupt Thailand
Queen Suthida Takes to the Skies in Gripen as Floodwaters Disrupt Thailand
SURAT THANI, October 9, 2026 — Thailand’s Queen Suthida has completed her first solo flight in a JAS 39C Gripen fighter jet, an event drawing attention as the country continues to grapple with widespread flooding that has affected millions of people.
The Queen flew the single-seat Royal Thai Air Force fighter on October 8 at Wing 7 in Phun Phin district, Surat Thani province, under the observation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. The royal flight was conducted according to the Air Force’s training standards.
The flight took place amid a serious flood emergency. As of October 8, flooding was continuing across 21 provinces and parts of Bangkok, affecting more than 3.13 million people, with 44 deaths reported since September 16, according to figures cited by Malay Mail.
Queen completes first solo flight in Gripen
Before flying the single-seat JAS 39C Gripen alone, Queen Suthida completed training on the two-seat JAS 39D variant, accumulating 10 hours and 13 minutes of flight time, as well as training on a flight simulator.
She had previously accumulated 1,188.48 flight hours across different aircraft, including the Boeing 737 and Royal Thai Air Force training aircraft, according to the royal account.
During the October 8 exercise, the King observed the preparation of the aircraft, takeoff and landing. The Queen completed the flight safely.
Following the flight, the King presented her with a bouquet of flowers and awarded her the Gripen Order Golden Patch, an insignia recognising successful flight operations in the fighter aircraft.
Flight takes place as Thailand faces widespread flooding
The royal aviation event came as floodwaters continued to disrupt communities, transport and economic activity across Thailand.
Flooding since mid-September has affected large parts of the country, including Bangkok and several central, eastern and southern provinces. Authorities have continued relief and recovery operations as weather officials warned of further heavy rain and possible flash floods from October 9 to 13.
The contrast between the Queen’s high-profile military flight and the continuing flood emergency places two very different aspects of Thailand’s current situation in focus: a royal aviation milestone and the challenges facing communities affected by the disaster.
The flight announcement did not indicate that the event was connected to the flood response.
