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World’s Tallest Woman travels on a plane for the very first time

Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest woman, was recently able to fly for the first time with a little help from Turkish Airlines.

Rumeysa Gelgi took a flight for the very first time. Photo: rumeysagelgi / instagram

World’s Tallest Woman hops on a plane

Standing at a whopping 2.1 metres tall, Rumeysa Gelgi is the current Guiness World Record title holder for the ‘World’s Tallest Woman’. Gelgi had never been able to travel on planes due to her stature, having been too tall to fit in regular airline seats even as a child, says Mail Online.

That all changed in September, however, when Gelgi was able to take her very first flight with Turkish Airlines, from Istanbul to San Francisco. How, you may ask? Turkish Airlines made it possible by removing six economy seats onboard one of its aircraft, and replaced them with a specially-made stretcher which allowed Gelgi to fly in comfort.

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Gelgi, who is too tall to travel usually, typically gets around in a wheelchair or with the aid of a walker. Her incredible height is caused by a condition called Weaver syndrome which, among other things, causes accelerated growth.

Gelgi took to Instagram on her flight and shared a few images of herself on the journey, saying that it was “a flawless journey from start to finish.”

Rumeysa Gelgi on board the Turkish Airlines flight. Photo: rumeysagelgi / instagram
Rumeysa Gelgi on board the Turkish Airlines flight. Photo: rumeysagelgi / instagram

“This was my first flight, but it certainly won’t be the last. From now on, I will be very honored and happy to fly to different parts of the world with @turkishairlines. A heartfelt thank you to every single person involved in my journey,” she wrote on the Instagram post.

ALSO READ: Sunscreen on a plane? Doctor reveals why it’s a MUST

Sundeeka Mungroo

Sundeeka Mungroo is a content writer, foodie and all-round adventure-seeker. She's a graduate of the University of South Africa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and has worked as a copywriter and editor in the digital marketing industry. Sundeeka currently writes for I Love South Africa and The South African. She lives in the beautiful Mother City and loves exploring all that South Africa has to offer.

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