A 19-year-old American influencer who set out to visit all seven continents has been stranded in Antarctica’s Chilean territory for over a month after allegedly landing his small plane illegally.
Authorities say Ethan Guo touched down in a remote area in June despite only being cleared to fly over Punta Arenas. Instead, he kept heading south in his Cessna 182Q, ignoring restrictions and allegedly providing false flight plan data, the Associated Press reported.
Guo’s adventure — intended to raise money for childhood cancer research — quickly turned into an international legal mess. On June 29, he was charged with giving false information to ground control and landing without authorization.
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Charges Dropped, But There’s a Price
On Monday, a judge agreed to drop the charges as part of a deal between Guo’s legal team and Chilean prosecutors — but it came with strict conditions.
To avoid trial, Guo must donate $30,000 to a children’s cancer foundation within 30 days and leave Chilean territory as soon as possible. He’s also banned from entering Chile for three years.
While he’s been staying at a military base, the court says it’s not a detention — just that extreme weather has grounded all flights out. And no, he can’t just hop in his own plane and go.
Paying the Price for Adventure
Until the weather clears, Guo is footing the bill for his own aircraft’s security and maintenance, along with all other personal expenses.
Prosecutors say the young pilot’s unauthorized landing raised serious safety concerns — and his situation is now a cautionary tale for thrill-seeking travelers tempted to bend aviation rules.