Thai King Pilots His Own Plane on State Visit to Vietnam

King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (Rama X) of Thailand and Queen Suthida piloted their own Boeing 737-8Z6 aircraft to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on the afternoon of September 14, commencing a state visit to Vietnam from September 14-16 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam and his wife. It is rare for a head of state to personally pilot an aircraft during an international tour. However, this is not the first time the Thai King has done so. In March, King Rama X, the first Thai royal to visit Laos in 32 years, also piloted his own plane for the trip. Videos shared on social media platforms at the time showed the King and Queen in the cockpit of a Boeing 737-8Z6 as it approached the airport, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn personally landing the aircraft and taxiing it to the red carpet. The King was quoted by Thai news outlet Khaosod as saying, "The trip felt like coming home, meeting old friends and strengthening friendship in the best way possible." In April 2025, the King and Queen also piloted their own aircraft to Bhutan, safely landing at Paro, one of the world's most challenging airports to access. King Rama X, 74, ascended the throne in 2016. He served as a pilot in the Royal Thai Air Force and held various command and important positions. From a young age, he showed a particular interest in aircraft and aviation, undergoing extensive training to become a professional pilot capable of flying numerous military and civilian aircraft, including F-5 and F-16 fighter jets and Boeing 737 passenger planes. Queen Suthida was a flight attendant for JALways and Thai Airways before joining the military in 2008. Both the King and Queen hold commercial pilot licenses (CPL) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. The state visit aims to further strengthen bilateral ties between Vietnam and Thailand.