Belgian teen makes history becoming youngest woman to fly around the world
MANILA, Philippines — A 19-year-old Belgian teen became the youngest woman to fly around the world independently.
Zara Rutherford broke a Guinness World Record after she flew around 41 countries in five continents in 155 days.
“A few days ago I became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world!” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’s been a really long 5 months (meant to be less than 3) and I’m so happy to be home. A special thank you to ICDSoft, a web hosting company from Bulgaria who became my main sponsor shortly before I left!” she added.
She left Belgium last August and returned to her home country on January 20.
"With the successful circumnavigation, I am happy not only to break the Guinness World Record of youngest woman flying solo around the world, but also to reduce the gender gap by 11 years between the current youngest male record holder Travis Ludlow, 18 at the time of his record, and the previous female record holder Shaesta Waez, who was 30 when she completed her 'Dreams Soar' around-the-world flight," Rutherford said in a statement.
Zara said the hardest part of her journey was over Siberia.
"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," she said.
"I'm not sure I would have survived," she added.
