Pilot, 19, to be the youngest woman to fly the world solo

A TEENAGER who set her sights sky high for a gap-year challenge looks set to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.

Zara Rutherford, whose parents are pilots, took off in August to journey across 52 countries and twice over the equator. The 19-year-old is due to complete her trip when she lands in Belgium on Monday.

She is aiming to break the record by American Shaesta Waiz, who was 30 when she set the benchmark in 2017.

Miss Rutherford, who attended £11,500-a-term St Swithun’s School in Winchester, said she did not originally plan the trip as a world record attempt.

She said: ‘At first, I was planning to fly around the world as an adventure during my gap year, not realising I would become the youngest woman to do so if I achieved it.’