AT seven feet (2.1-metres) tall, Rumeysa Gelgi – who hails from Türkiye – the current record holder for the world’s tallest woman, recently boarded a flight from Istanbul to San Francisco.
In order to comfortably make the 13-hour flight, the cabin crew of the Turkish Airlines flight needed to remove six rows of seats.
Afflicted by a condition called scoliosis, 25-year-old Rumeysa cannot sit for an extended period of time, and has to lie down.
"This will be my first flight as well as my first travel overseas. But I believe that this experience will be a first for many individuals, not just me,” she said to members of the press before boarding the plane.
“Because, as you know, the option of travelling as a stretcher passenger is generally reserved for patients who are being transferred from one intensive care unit to another.”
"It is an alternative for patients who are referred from one hospital to another and need an ambulance.
"However, because I couldn't sit for lengthy periods of time due to my scoliosis, or spine curvature disorder, I had to fly on a stretcher."
After the flight, Rumeysa shared a few photos of her experience.
"A flawless journey from start to finish. There are so many people I have to thank.. @turkishairlines officials and staff, @igairport staff, @airclinic team, all cabin personnel, especially our cabin chief, @flysfo officers and medical team, customs police and many other departments that I can't count.
"Unfortunately, however, I did not have the chance to learn the names of many people who helped me with kindness and devotion for 13 hours in the air for a total of 19 hours, and who organised the celebration of the 'first flight' above the clouds.
"This was my first flight, but it certainly won't be the last. From now on, I will be very honoured and happy to fly to different parts of the world with @turkishairlines.
Earlier this year, Rumeysa smashed three world records.
She became the woman in the world with the largest hands, as well as the longest fingers and back of any female on the planet.
Her right hand measures 24.93cm long, in comparison the average female hand measures about 17cm. – The Vibes, November 5, 2022
