First all-female crew lands plane in Saudi Arabia, but crew can't drive

An image which was shared by Royal Brunei's Instagram account last month, shows the airline's first all-female flight crew sitting in the cabin of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Royal Brunei announced the introduction of its first all-female flight crew late last month, making it the latest in a string of airlines to mark the milestone.

However, it wasn't just the pilots' sex that brought attention: It was where they were flying to.

At the time the photograph was taken, Capt. Sharifah Czarena and her two female first officers were about to fly from Brunei to Jiddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia — a country where women are not allowed to drive.

Although the image was initially shared three weeks ago, it gained traction after being shared this week on Reddit under the headline "An all-female crew lands an airliner into a country they're not allowed to drive in." The image soon spread far and wide on social media.

Saudi Arabia's restrictions on women driving have gained international notoreity. However,  In 2014, Hanadi al-Hindi became the first Saudi woman to be licensed to fly in the kingdom, and she has since been followed by others. Her license came a year after billionaire Saudi Prince Talal had cited her flying ability as evidence that Saudi women should be allowed to drive.

Picture courtesy - Instagram/Royal Brunei Air