An American teenager’s adventurous attempt to fly to every continent has taken an unexpected turn as he found himself detained on King George Island in Antarctica. Ethan Guo, 19, was apprehended by Chilean authorities following the submission of a misleading flight plan, as reported by CBS News. Guo's aerial deviation prompted the activation of alert protocols by Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics.
Upon landing on the chilly island, which serves as home to various international research stations, Guo was taken into custody at Teniente R. Marsh airport. The teenager initially launched his small Cessna 182 aircraft from Punta Arenas, located near the southernmost tip of Chile, intending to reach King George Island, a region claimed by Chile and named in honor of King George III of England.
Law officials allege that Guo's submitted flight plan only covered the route over Punta Arenas, failing to include his subsequent journey. He has been formally charged with breaching two articles of the Chilean aeronautical code, one of which may lead to a short-term prison sentence. Moreover, authorities have indicated that he violated the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international relations concerning the largely uninhabited continent.
In a recent social media update, Guo reassured followers, saying, "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon." His previous aerial adventure spanned over 140 days, completing visits to all six other continents. Guo's aim is to become the first pilot to accomplish solo flights across all seven continents while also raising $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
