An American influencer flying solo around the world to raise money for charity has been detained after landing in Antarctica without permission.
Ethan Guo, 19, is attempting to become the first person to fly solo to all seven continents in a small aircraft and raise $1 million for childhood cancer research.
But he has now been detained after submitting a false flight plan and veering off course to the South Pole, Chilean authorities say.
Highlights
- Ethan Guo, 19, was detained in Antarctica after landing without permission and submitting a false flight plan to Chilean authorities.
- Guo aims to fly solo to all seven continents in a small plane, hoping to raise $1 million for childhood cancer research.
- He veered off his declared route over Punta Arenas and landed at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory.
- Authorities charged Guo for endangering air traffic safety and violating multiple national and international Antarctic regulations.
- Guo began his journey in May 2022 after his cousin's cancer diagnosis inspired him to raise awareness and funds for the cause.
Ethan Guo was detained by Chilean authorities after landing in Antarctica
Image credits: Ethan Guo
On Saturday, June 28, Guo took off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Chile after submitting a flight plan saying he would be flying over the city of Punta Arenas in his Cessna 182Q aircraft.
He reportedly veered off track and landed at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory.
“The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority,” the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, Cristian Crisosto Rifo, said in a statement translated by CNN.
Image credits: Chilean Presidency Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images
“He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas.
“However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory.”
Rifo said that this “seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region.”
Image credits: Ethan Guo
In addition to violating the Aeronautical Code, Guo also violated “multiple national and international regulations regarding routes to Antarctica and access to the white continent,” Rifo added.
Guo was charged by authorities after landing at the base and is being held there until weather conditions allow him to return back to Punta Arenas on a commercial flight.
He will then have to remain in Chile for 90 days while an investigation is carried out.
Guo is aiming to raise $1 million for childhood cancer research
Image credits: Ethan Guo
According to Guo’s lawyer, he experienced “complications” while flying and was trying to figure out if he would be able to follow his route.
“While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,” Karina Ulloa said at a press conference, CNN reported.
“He was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not.”
Guo set off on his travels from Tennessee in May of last year and has so far landed in around 60 countries, documenting his travels on social media and amassing more than 1 million followers.
He says he was inspired to embark on the challenge after his cousin was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, as it made him take life more seriously.
“In 2021 my cousin was diagnosed with cancer. I admire him. He inspired me to take life more seriously and join the fight against cancer,” Guo said in a statement on his website.
Guo landed at the Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base
Image credits: Google Maps
Image credits: Ethan Guo
“I want to use every opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the necessity to increase research efforts to find prevention and treatment methods.”
His latest Instagram video, posted on June 23, shows him on day 142 of his travels and documents his flight to the Philippines.
There have been no further posts since he was detained by Chilean authorities.