This was my first flight, but it certainly won't be the last
The world's tallest woman has flown on a plane for the first time after an airline removed six rows of seats to accommodate her.
World record holder Rumeysa Gelgi, who stands at seven feet tall, recently took a 13-hour Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to San Francisco
Due to a condition called scoliosis, Rumeysa is unable to sit for a long time and had to lie on a bed.
Gelgi spoke to reporters at the airport ahead of the trip of a lifetime, and said: "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."
The 25-year-old continued: "Because, as you know, the option of traveling as a stretcher passenger is generally reserved for patients who are being transferred from one intensive care unit to another.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CjIi_6aLce0/
"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."
Gelgi later shared a few photos from onboard the plane and thanked the airline and crew for making the trip happen.
"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.
"For this reason, I would like to thank firstly to Mr. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board of @turkishairlines, and then to Mr. Ramazan Yaşa, Customer Relations Manager of @turkishairlines, who personally organised this whole process.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckg1QnkDowX/
"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. Adding: "A heartfelt thank you to every single person involved in my journey. With love."
Earlier this year, Gelgi celebrated smashing three new world records.
After recently being measured, she became the woman 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. The average female hand measuring around 17cm.
Related links
