All female crew lands plane on Saudi soil where women can't take the wheel

The first ever all-female flight deck crew for Royal Brunei Airlines has operated a plane from Brunei to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Although it was a milestone for the airline, the pilot crew touched down in a country where women are still not allowed to drive a car.

All female crews are becoming more common as more women train to be pilots -- several international airlines were able to operate long-haul flights staffed by female pilots to coincide with Women of Aviation Worldwide Week (March 7 – 13).

Captain Sharifah Czarena Surainy, Senior First Officer Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem and Senior First Officer Sariana Nordin flew flight BI081 to the Middle Eastern country on February 23.

This came three years after Captain Sharifa Czarena Surainy became the first female captain of a flag carrier in Southeast Asia.

Last year, women were allowed to stand in elections for the first time in Saudi, and they were able to vote.

But still women have to be driven by a man if they want to travel anywhere by car.

The kingdom is the only country in the world that forbids women from driving, with Muslim clerics claiming ‘licentiousness’ will spread if women drive.

Image: The all female flight deck crew comprising of Captain Sharifah Czarena Surainy, Senior First Officer Dk Nadiah Pg Khashiem and Senior First Officer Sariana Nordin. Photograph: Royal Brunei Airlines