INTERNATIONAL: A 40-hour playlist of hits including Billie Eilish kept British-Belgian teen Zara Rutherford going as she flew over Siberia on her record-breaking solo flight around the world, the pilot has shared on Thursday, January 20.

Nineteen-year-old Rutherford was speaking from the tarmac at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in Belgium shortly after completing her five-month journey, which took in 51,000 kilometres and more than 50 nations.

"I'm still in disbelief to be honest," Rutherford has said.

The hairiest moments of her trip she recalls were a thunderstorm in Singapore and her lengthy crossing of Siberia, with her feet back on firm ground.

"In Siberia it was tough because, thankfully, nothing happened, but if it did happen and the engine were to stop for any reason, then suddenly I would be stuck in minus 35 degrees Celsius, at least three hours away from rescue," she said.

Avoiding North Korean airspace was also a challenge and the weather almost drove her into it.

"Normally nothing should or would happen in North Korean airspace but they have been testing missiles with no warning. And if they see a small blip or aircraft on their screen that's quite low, heading towards their country, it's very possible that they would send someone out to have a look," she said.

She has also said she hoped to be a role model for young women and girls to study science, mathematics and engineering.

"Growing up I didn't see many other girls flying, and I always thought that was discouraging. So in the future I'd like to get some more girls in aviation as well," she said.

Her mother Beatrice De Smet, also a pilot along with her father Sam Rutherford, has said she thought the round the world trip would have taught her daughter to appreciate the smaller things.

"We all dream as youngsters to do amazing things and when, like Zara, you do amazing things you discover that beauty can be in the little things too," she has said.

^{PHOTO: BRITISH-BELGIAN TEEN PILOT ZARA RUTHERFORD LANDING PLANE, GREETING FAMILY, INTERVIEW WITH RUTHERFORD AND PARENTS}