American teenager arrested in Antarctica while trying a solo flight to 7 continents

An American teenager was arrested on an Antarctic island while trying to pilot his little plane to all continents, Chilean authorities said, who allegedly accused him of presenting a false flight plan.

Ethan Guo, 19, won an online tracking by documenting his trip around the world, which lasted more than 100 days and had already taken him to six continents before the Antarctic trip, according to his website and publications on social networks.

Guo said he hoped to become the first pilot to complete a solo flight on the seven continents in a small Cessna, a feat that simultaneously aims to raise $ 1 million for cancer investigation through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In his place, the teenager cites the 2021 cancer diagnosis of his cousin as his source of inspiration.

Guo’s latest Instagram publications reported part of their way on southeastern Asia. But the authorities in South America say that the Pacific Ocean went through, ending in Chile before making their way to Antarctica.

According to Cristian Cristoso Rifo, the regional prosecutor of Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctica, Guo departed from the airport of the city of Punta Arenas, near the southernmost point of Chile, and proceeded to make an unauthorized flight to the island of King George. Located on the Atlantic coast, Chile claims the island as part of its Atlantic territory.

The young pilot landed his plane at the Teniente R. Marsh airport of the island, where he was arrested, Cristoso said in a video statement shared on social networks on Monday. The prosecutor’s office accused Guo for violating two articles of the Chilean Aeronautical Code, including one that demands a short -term imprisonment or a fine demolished to anyone who lands in Chilean territory without legitimate authorization. Guo supposedly presented a flight plan that indicated his plans to fly on Punta Arenas, but not further than that, according to Crystoso.

The prosecutor said that, in addition to his alleged infractions of the Aeronautical Code, Guo violated the “national and international” rules that govern access to Antarctica and the routes taken to get there. His unauthorized flight also raised safety risks for air traffic to the frozen continent, added Cristoso.

News themezone has communicated with Guo to comment.

• Chili
• Antarctica