World’s tallest woman flies for first time
THE world’s tallest woman was able to fly on a plane for the first time after an airline removed six economy seats to accommodate her.
Rumeysa Gelgi, who stands at 7ft 0.7in, was named the world’s tallest woman by Guinness World Records last year.
Turkish Airlines adapted one of its planes to allow her to travel from Istanbul to San Francisco in September, removing six seats and replacing them with a special stretcher for her to lie on during the 13-hour flight.
Ms Gelgi, 25, had never been able to travel on a plane because of her height, the result of a condition called Weaver syndrome that causes bone overgrowth.
The condition tends to produce rapid growth, as well as affecting facial features and causing learning and physical disabilities.
Even as a child, she was too large to fit in plane seats. Ms Gelgi – who is based in California and works in the software industry – uses a special wheelchair to get around, but can walk with a cane.
She holds five world records in total including for having the largest hands and the longest finger and back.