Thai Royals Take to the Skies
Picture this: Thailand’s King and Queen not just as mere passengers but at the controls of their own government jet, taking a spin for their first-ever official state visit. It’s a scene straight out of a movie. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s real life! Their destination? The mystical land of Bhutan, marked by sharp mountain peaks and a notoriously tough-to-crack airport.
Flying High into Paro Airport
Back on April 25, 2025, King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand took on the skies for a four-day jaunt to Bhutan, courtesy of a warm invitation from Bhutan’s King. Now, we all know state visits are a big deal – lots of ceremonial pomp, endless photo ops. But these royals cranked it up a notch by being their own pilots in a Boeing 737-800. Talk about making an entrance!
Heads of state piloting planes? It’s a rare breed. Even more unusual is having the King’s co-pilot be none other than the Queen herself. At Paro Airport, one of the world’s trickiest landing spots, these royal aviators showed off their skills. Imagine a runway nearly 7,400 feet up, nestled amid 18,000-foot-tall Himalayan giants. Not for the faint-hearted, and only a select 50 pilots across the globe hold the golden ticket to land here.
Check out the footage floating around: there’s the 72-year-old king, paired with his 46-year-old queen, deftly maneuvering the plane. You can even catch a glimpse of that nail-biting landing from outside the aircraft.
First Impressions and Royal Greetings
Once on the ground, it was time to shift gears from pilots to dignitaries. With the flight part of the mission accomplished, there was still the matter of an official state visit to attend to. Before diving into the formalities, the King and Queen probably had to quickly swap out of their pilot attire and into something befitting royalty, ready to meet their Bhutanese hosts.
The King’s Aviation Obsession (and a Surprising Partnership)
So, here’s the scoop. King Vajiralongkorn isn’t just a king; he’s an aviation aficionado. His resume? Packed with stints in the Royal Thai Army, flying everything from fighter jets to passenger planes. He’s got a thing for planes—not just flying them, but collecting them too. Rumor has it, there’s even a Boeing 737 parked at his residence as a quirky garden centerpiece. If you’re keen to explore new horizons, consider Val Seny ski resort.
Meanwhile, Queen Suthida’s journey to the cockpit had its own twist. Once a flight attendant, she switched to military duty and became the King’s bodyguard when he was Crown Prince. Fast forward five years, and she’s not just in the king’s life but by his side in the cockpit.
And just how did the royal duo prep for the sky-high challenge of piloting to Bhutan? The King dove into a rigorous five-day training regimen, hopscotching from simulators to military airstrips to master the art of landing at Paro. Even in the cockpit, they had a trusty guide—a pilot from Drukair, Bhutan’s national airline, keeping a watchful eye from the sidelines.
The Departure: A Safe Takeoff
The King and Queen didn’t just stop at the arrival. No siree! They proved their skills on departure as well, lifting their 737 gracefully off the ground and back toward Thailand. Surely the air traffic controllers must have handled them with gentle gloves—no holding patterns for this flying royal couple.
The Bottom Line
This regal duo puts a fresh twist on state visits. While most heads of state arrive flanked by security forces and polished entourages, Thailand’s monarchs rolled the dice and took the controls themselves, acing one of the world’s most daunting landings.
Royal life might not always be about glamour and glitz, but these aviators-turned-monarchs sure know how to have a bit of fun atop their thrones.
What’s your take on the King and Queen’s sky-high skills as they navigated Bhutan’s airspace? Bold move or just another day at the “office” for these high-flyers?