Charges have been dropped against Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old American influencer and pilot, who has been stuck on King George Island in Antarctica since June. Guo faced accusations of landing unlawfully in Chilean territory during his ambitious quest to fly solo to all seven continents and raise money for childhood cancer research. Initially detained for allegedly providing false flight plan details, a judge ruled in his favor, allowing him to leave the area after he pays a $30,000 donation to a charity and bans him from re-entering Chilean territory for three years.
Last year, Guo gained recognition for his attempt to become the youngest person to complete solo flights across all continents, having already visited six. His journey took a wrong turn when he flew from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island, which hosts various international research facilities. Although originally charged with providing misleading information to ground control and unauthorized landing, these charges were dismissed earlier this week.
Following the judge's decision, Guo expressed his anticipation for an approved departure flight, emphasizing his desire to continue his mission. Having stayed at a military base on the island for several weeks and unable to leave due to the extreme cold, he remains hopeful. With a goal of raising $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Guo's journey has seen him spend over 140 days flying in pursuit of making a meaningful impact.
