19-year-old Princess Salma bint Abdullah has earned the title of the first female pilot for the Jordanian Armed Forces.
The princess was presented her aviation wings by her father, King Abdullah, at the Husseiniya Palace in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Wednesday. The ceremony was attended by the princess’ mother, Queen Rania and her older brother, Crown Prince Hussein.
The princess passed her theoretical and practical pilot training course with flying colors to earn the distinction of first female pilot of her country. Previously, the princess had graduated from a short commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in November 2018.
Her brother, Crown Prince Hussein, is also a first lieutenant in the Jordanian Armed Forces.
Several members of the Jordanian royal family are alumni of Sandhurst, such as King Abdullah, Prince Hussein, and the late King Hussein. Princess Aisha, Princess Salma’s paternal aunt, was the first Arab female to graduate from Sandhurst, a UK-based military academy. Princess Aisha graduated in 1987 and went on to serve in Jordan’s special forces. Another aunt, Princess Iman, graduated from the academy in 2003.
