Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old pilot, faces charges in Chile after landing on King George Island, disrupting his 140-day expedition aimed at raising funds for cancer research.
Teen Pilot Detained in Antarctica During Global Flight Mission
Teen Pilot Detained in Antarctica During Global Flight Mission
An American teen's quest to fly across all seven continents hits a snag as he is held in Antarctica for submitting a false flight plan.
An American teenager's ambitious journey to become the first solo pilot to fly across all continents was abruptly interrupted after being detained on King George Island in Antarctica. Ethan Guo, 19, was apprehended by Chilean authorities following a false flight plan submission, which activated emergency protocols in the region. The Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics reported that Guo's Cessna 182 aircraft, having taken off from Punta Arenas, was not cleared to proceed beyond the initially planned route.
Upon his landing at Teniente R. Marsh airport, Guo was charged with violations of the Chilean aeronautical code, which could lead to a short-term prison sentence. Notably, he also faces accusations of breaching the Antarctic Treaty, an agreement governing international relations regarding the uninhabited continent.
In a social media update, Guo assured his followers, who number over a million, that he is safe and promised further information soon. Having already completed flights across six continents in his four-month endeavor, Guo hopes to raise $1 million for cancer research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital while making history as a pioneering explorer.
