Teen Pilot in Antarctic Detention Following Flight Plan Violation

19-year-old Ethan Guo faces charges after submitting a false flight plan during his journey to become the first solo pilot to fly to all seven continents while raising funds for cancer research.

An American teenager has been detained on King George Island, Antarctica, disrupting his attempt to fly to every continent in a small plane—a quest that has garnered over a million online followers. Ethan Guo, 19, was stopped by Chilean authorities for submitting a false flight plan, as reported by CBS News. The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of Chile stated that Mr. Guo's alterations to his flight plan triggered emergency protocols.

Guo landed on King George Island, which houses various international research stations and experiences temperatures well below freezing in July. His journey began in Punta Arenas, located near the southern tip of Chile. The island is claimed by Chile and is named after King George III of England. He was apprehended at Teniente R. Marsh airport.

According to regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo, Guo had prepared a flight plan that only included flying over Punta Arenas, devoid of any intentions to proceed further. He is facing charges under the country's aeronautical code, including potential short-term imprisonment for his actions.

Furthermore, the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics indicated that Guo may have breached the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international regulations concerning the uninhabited continent. On social media platform X, he provided a brief update, assuring followers, "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon."

Ethan Guo has successfully flown his Cessna 182 across the other six continents in the course of more than 140 days. He aims to be the first pilot to achieve solo flights over all seven continents and concurrently intends to raise $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.