A young American pilot's ambitious dream to fly solo to every continent for a good cause has hit a major roadblock. Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old influencer and aviator, was recently detained by Chilean officials after landing his small aircraft in Antarctica without receiving prior permission. This unexpected event has put his record-breaking journey and charitable mission in a state of uncertainty.
Guo’s ambitious journey began with the goal of raising $1 million for cancer research, a cause he took up after a family member was diagnosed with the illness. He had successfully flown to six of the seven continents, documenting his travels for his large following on social media. Antarctica was the final, and most challenging, destination on his list.
The trouble began when Guo took off from Punta Arenas, a city in the south of Chile. According to Chilean authorities, he had filed a flight plan that only indicated a short flight over the local area. However, he deviated from this plan and flew his Cessna aircraft to a Chilean airbase on King George Island in Antarctica, a journey of over 700 miles over the ocean.
Upon his unauthorized arrival, Guo was immediately detained. Chilean prosecutors have charged him with violating national and international aviation laws, stating that his actions endangered air traffic safety in the region. His unapproved flight broke strict regulations that govern travel to the environmentally protected continent of Antarctica. For now, Guo is required to remain in Chile while the authorities conduct a 90-day investigation into the incident.
In his defense, Guo's lawyer has stated that the young pilot experienced "a series of complications" while he was in the air, which led to the diversion. The lawyer explained that the flight was intended to be an exploratory one to see if the route was even possible. As the investigation continues, the future of Guo's philanthropic mission and his attempt to make aviation history hangs in the balance.
Source: CNN