The tallest woman in the world flew for the first time this week, marking an important turning point in her life.

Rumayesi Gelgi, a 25-year-old Turkish lady who stands 2.15 meters (7 ft 0.7 in) tall and is the tallest woman on earth according to the World Guinness Book of Records, just boarded her maiden journey with Turkish Airlines, which recently smashed its record for the number of people on board.

The airline transformed six seats into a stretcher and put it in the overhead bin in order to convey her safely.

Gelgi is a software developer who also has Weaver Syndrome, a genetic disorder with rapid growth, and scoliosis. She is occasionally able to walk short distances even though she primarily travels in a wheelchair.

In order to collaborate with Guinness on an event that would take place in North America, Gelgi was traveling to the United States.

She was unable to contain her happiness and shared it with reporters at the Istanbul Airport, expressing how excited she was to go by air for the first time and how important the flight was for individuals who needed a stretcher, like herself.

“Not only will this be my first flight, but it will also be my first time traveling abroad. I do believe that many people, including myself, will be experiencing this for the first time. As you are aware, the only patients normally allowed to ride as passengers on stretchers are those who are being transferred from one intensive care unit to another.”

She went on to say, “It is a different option for patients who are transferred from one hospital to another and require an ambulance. On the other hand, I was obliged to fly on a stretcher since the curvature of my spine caused by scoliosis prevented me from sitting for long periods of time.”

The world’s tallest woman, Gelgi, is using her position as the tallest woman in the Guinness World Book of Records to advocate for those who have Weaver Syndrome and Scoliosis and to spread awareness of these disorders. Gelgi lives in Turkey, the same nation as the world’s tallest man.