Making history: Jordan's Princess Salma gets her wings after graduating pilot training
09 January, 2020
Jordan's Princess Salma bint Abdullah this week made history with a sky-high new achievement.
The royal, the third child of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Abdullah, became the first young Jordanian woman to complete preliminary pilot training on fixed wing aircraft, according to a statement from the Royal Hashemite Court.
Princess Salma, 19, was presented with her wings in a ceremony at Amman's Al Husseiniya Palace yesterday, with her parents and brother, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah, in attendance.
Her proud father, who is Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces, pinned the ceremonial badge to Princess Salma's uniform during the official ceremony, following the royal pilot passing her theoretical and practical training.
"Brilliant and hard-working as always!" wrote Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah on Instagram, in tribute to his sister. "Congrats on receiving your wings and here's to more success and achievements."
Princess Salma's training follows her graduation from Britain's prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in November 2018.
The royal became the third of her immediate family to undertake a Short Commissioning Course at the institution, following in the footsteps of King Abdullah II and her brother, Crown Prince Hussein.
She is also not the first female member of the Jordanian royal family to attend the military academy. Her aunt, Princess Aisha bint Hussein, became the first Middle Eastern woman to attend the academy, graduating in 1987.
Princess Salma's Sandhurst graduation in the UK was attended by her parents, as well as Crown Prince Hussain and her elder sister, Princess Iman, who flew over from Washington DC where she is studying at Georgetown University.
Queen Rania and King Abdullah II also have a second son, 14-year-old Prince Hashem.
The royal court has not yet made a statement regarding Princess Salma's military responsibilities or future training following the awarding of her wings.
Source: www.thenational.ae
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