The tallest woman in the world has taken her first-ever flight after Turkish Airlines adapted one of its planes to accommodate her.
Rumeysa Gelgi flew from Istanbul to San Francisco and six seats were removed and replaced with a specially designed stretcher.
At 7ft 1inches in height, she was officially named the tallest woman alive by the Guinness World Records this year.
Her height is a result of having a condition called Weaver Syndrome – which among other things causes accelerated growth.
Ms Gelgi is required to use a wheelchair a majority of the time and even as a child she was too tall to sit in an aircraft seat.
When she landed in San Francisco, she posted on social media: ”A flawless journey from start to finish… this was my first plane ride but it certainly won’t be my last… heartfelt thank you to each and every person who has been a part of my journey.’‘
She has travelled to San Francisco to pursue a career in software development and will coordinate with Guinness World Records to promote various events.
When she received her certificate, Ms Gelgi said, ”Every disadvantage can be turned into an advantage for yourself so accept yourself for who you are, be aware of your potential and do your best.’‘
She was also named the tallest teenager alive in 2014, and since then has used her platform to advocate for others with rare conditions.
