How could so many publications have got it wrong?
Not only got it wrong BUT all made exactly the same mistake, that is, "assuming" she was solo, not alone, not by herself, BUT solo, they all used the same term to describe the flight.
Remember many of these reporters are not aviators, so the nuances of the use of solo would be lost on many and they likely would have used their own words, but no, they used the word solo. How/why did this happen?
Also where did the SMH get all the data for their nice graphic, all that nice detail about the pilot and the aircraft, the route, the dates and of course the nice headline, SOLO FLIGHT. I'd be willing to bet they didn't have to do much research, more than likely a nice juicy media release arrived in the mail/inbox. Perhaps they still have a copy?