Meet The 16 Year Old On A Mission To Be The Youngest Pilot To Fly Across The World Alone
On Wednesday, May 18, a 16-year-old adolescent successfully landed a jet at Nairobi Wilson Airport after flying all the way from Bulgaria to Kenya.
Lydia Kadima 
Mack Rutherford set off on his quest to become the world's youngest person to fly alone around the world to beat the world record.
Mack began his adventure near Sofia in March with the goal of breaking a Guinness World Record currently held by compatriot Travis Ludlow, who completed a circumnavigation at the age of 18 in 2021.
Kenya was one of the countries he planned to visit on his quest to achieve a new world record. He will visit four more African and Indian Ocean countries before heading to the Middle East, Asia, and North America and finally returning to Europe.
"I'm hoping, with this journey, to inspire young people to follow their dreams," Rutherford said after landing his aircraft at Wilson Airport.
He comes from a family of pilots that are passionate about the industry. He first flew a plane when he was seven years old, with the assistance of his father.
The manufacturer of the plane turned down Mack's mission because it was too dangerous.
"Mack is no doubt a skilled pilot. However, we do not feel comfortable pushing the age limit to the lowest possible point for journeys where a certain level of risk cannot be avoided," the company stated.
He faced various difficulties while flying across the Sahara Desert, but the landscape kept him going until he arrived at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
"It hasn't let me down, I've absolutely loved the views both around the Sahara Desert and in Kenya," he stated.
Mack became the world's youngest pilot at 15 due to his passion and ambition. Zara Rutherford, his elder sister, made history by becoming the youngest woman to fly around the world at 19.
Mack is now on a quest to honor his family's legacy while simultaneously breaking new ground in aviation.
