19-Year-Old Detained After Attempting to Fly to Antarctica Without Authorisation

Photo Credits: Air Mart

Ethan Guo, a teenager from the United States, was recently arrested by the Chilean authorities attempting to fly into the Chilean sector of Antarctica without proper permits and authorisation.  

Guo is facing charges after he flew from Punta Arenas with plans to fly over southern Chile. However, he changed course mid-air, moving towards Antarctica and landing at the Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base on King George Island on 28 June. 

Upon landing at the base, Guo was immediately taken into custody and remains in the Chilean sector of Antarctica as legal proceedings continue. 

Guo had been documenting his journey around the world on social media in an attempt to raise funds for cancer research. 

At the time of the attempted flight to Antarctica, Guo was operating a Cessna 182Q, a single-engine aircraft registered as N182WT. Before taking off from Punto Arenas, he had submitted a flight plan indicating he would remain within the city's airspace, but he diverted towards Antarctica without approval. 

The prosecutor in Guo's case, Cristian Crisosto Rifo, stated in a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter): "He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas. However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization." 

Guo has been formally charged with violating Chile’s Aeronautical Code and international aviation protocols related to Antarctic operations. He is required to remain in Chile for the next 90 days while his case proceeds, although he has not been transported back to the mainland due to poor weather conditions.