Thai Examiner
Highly qualified young woman becomes first Thai Airways female pilot in the hitherto all male cockpit
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Thai Airways breaks a 66-year cockpit barrier as Pannathorn “Bam” Tangrungruangchai becomes the airline’s first female pilot on a commercial flight, finally bringing the national carrier into line with rivals that opened cockpit roles to women years ago.
Key facts
- Thai Airways breaks a 66-year cockpit barrier as Pannathorn “Bam”
- For 66 years, every Thai Airways commercial flight departed with an all-male cockpit crew
- Thai Airways follows its rivals by opening cockpit roles to women after years of industry change
- Engineering degree and specialist pilot training laid the foundations for a commercial aviation career
- Historic Hanoi flight marks workforce milestone as Thai Airways closes a long-standing chapter
- Thai Airways to refloat on Stock Exchange in June 2025 with a renewed mission as national carrier
Summary
For 66 years, every Thai Airways commercial flight departed with an all-male cockpit crew. That changed on Monday when First Officer Pannathorn “Bam” Tangrungruangchai took her place on flight TG564 from Bangkok to Hanoi, becoming the first woman to pilot a commercial service for Thailand’s national carrier.
Thai Airways International has introduced its first female pilot on a commercial flight, marking a landmark moment in the airline’s 66-year history.