An American teenager has found himself in hot water while attempting an ambitious flight across the globe, as he was detained on an Antarctic island. Ethan Guo, 19, was stopped by Chilean authorities on King George Island after he allegedly submitted a false flight plan, leading to a major setback in his journey to fly to every continent.
Citing information from CBS News, the Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics stated that Guo’s deviations from his flight plan activated their alert protocols, prompting his detention upon arrival at Teniente R. Marsh airport. King George Island, known for its extreme cold temperatures, is home to various international research stations, making it a location of interest for authorities.
Mr. Guo's journey began in Punta Arenas, Chile, from where he took off, intending to only fly over the region. However, according to regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo, he did not have permission to venture beyond that area. As a result, he faces charges for violating Chile's aeronautical code, which could potentially lead to brief imprisonment. Furthermore, he is accused of breaching the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international interactions regarding the continent.
In a recent update on social media platform X, Guo reassured his followers, stating, “I’m alive everyone, I’ll make an update soon.” He has successfully completed flights to the other six continents over the past 140 days in his Cessna 182. His objective is to be recognized as the first pilot to achieve solo flights across all seven continents, all while aiming to raise $1 million for cancer research benefiting the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
