American teenager Ethan Guo, 19, has been detained on King George Island in Antarctica while attempting a remarkable aviation journey across all seven continents. This ongoing expedition has garnered a following of over a million people on social media platforms. Guo was stopped by Chilean authorities after allegedly submitting a false flight plan, which led to his aircraft triggering alert protocols upon deviation from that plan.
He was taken into custody at Teniente R. Marsh airport, situated on King George Island, which serves as a base for various international research stations. The Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics stated that Guo had been charged with violating two articles of the country’s aeronautical regulations, one of which may incur a short-term imprisonment sentence.
Initially taking off from Punta Arenas, located near the southernmost point of Chile, Guo aimed to land on the island. However, regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo remarked that his original flight plan only intended to fly over Punta Arenas and not proceed further. Additionally, authorities indicated that Guo may have violated the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international agreements concerning the uninhabited continent.
In an update posted on social media, Guo assured his followers of his safety, stating, "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon." Throughout this journey spanning over 140 days, Guo has completed solo flights to all six other continents and hopes to be the first pilot to finish this global quest in a Cessna aircraft. Alongside his aviation aspirations, he is committed to raising $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
