17-year-old Mack Rutherford becomes youngest person to fly solo around the world
- Mack Rutherford’s record-breaking flight covered 54,000 kilometres (34,000 miles) in 221 hours of flying time across 30 countries
- 17-year-old was recognised by Guinness World Records, with a certificate confirming he beat the record set last year by 18-year-old Travis Ludlow

A British-Belgian teenager became the youngest person to fly solo around the world on Wednesday after a five-month journey that saw him battle monsoon rains, searing heat and bureaucracy.
Cheers went up as 17-year-old Mack Rutherford landed at an airfield near the Bulgarian capital Sofia after flying 54,124km (33,631 miles) and visiting more than 30 countries since he departed from the same site in his Shark Aero microlight aeroplane on March 23.
“Amazing to finally be here again and to have done my goal,” he said with a wide smile. “It took a little bit longer than I had hoped for, but it was very exciting, very interesting trip and I don’t regret at all going on it.”

“This kind of journey requires a lot of control at all levels, you have to be able to control your emotions, your stress,” his mother, Beatrice de Smet told Agence France-Presse.