A 19-year-old pilot started an epic journey to raise money for charity last year. He intended to fly solo in a small plane to all seven continents. However his plan hit a snag when he was detained in Antarctica last month.
Ethan Guo is documenting his journey on his Instagram page. His voyage also has a website, with a mission statement which reads, “Inspired by his cousin’s battle with cancer, 19-year-old pilot Ethan Guo is embarking on a historic solo flight across all seven continents to raise $1 million for cancer research and awareness through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
Last month, Guo’s voyage ran into trouble when authorities unexpectedly detained him in Chile. They claim the young pilot violated “multiple national and international regulations” by changing flight plans and landing in Antarctica without their knowledge. He reportedly landed in a part of Antarctica where Chile maintains a territorial claim. Prosecutors threw the book at Guo, saying his flight plans “seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region.” They ordered that he stay in Chile until authorities said otherwise.
Charges Against The Pilot Were Raised And Then Dropped
According to AP News, authorities charged Guo with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorization on June 29. A judge dropped those charges on Monday, August 11, as part of an agreement between his lawyer and prosecutors.
Guo must donate $30,000 to a children’s cancer foundation within 30 days to avoid trial. As part of the agreement, he must leave the country as soon as possible. Authorities banned Guo from returning to Chilean territory for three years. He must also pay for his aircraft security and maintenance.
AP News reveals that Guo has stayed in a military base for six weeks. However, he was not forced to stay and was grounded due to severe weather.
Guo told AP News on Monday that he was “relieved by the outcome.” He explained, “I await in Antarctica awaiting approval for my departure flight. I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with our original mission.” The 19-year-old started his journey in September 2024 when he departed from Memphis, Tennessee.