Ethan Guo, 19, was detained on King George Island by Chilean authorities for submitting a false flight plan, jeopardizing his journey to fly to every continent and raise funds for cancer research.
**American Teen Pilot Detained in Antarctica Amid Historic Flight Attempt**

**American Teen Pilot Detained in Antarctica Amid Historic Flight Attempt**
An American teen strives for a historic aviation feat, but faces legal troubles in Antarctica.
In a remarkable journey to become the first solo pilot to fly to all seven continents, American teenager Ethan Guo, aged 19, has encountered unexpected legal challenges after being detained on King George Island in Antarctica. Guo's adventure has garnered the attention of over a million followers online, as he aims to raise one million dollars for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Chilean officials apprehended Guo after he submitted a flight plan that strayed from his original intentions, activating alert protocols set by the Chilean General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC). Following his unsanctioned landing at Teniente R. Marsh airport, located on King George Island—home to international research stations and renowned for subzero July temperatures—Guo was taken into custody.
The prosecution alleges that he falsified a flight plan that limited his journey to Punta Arenas, Chile, not accounting for his deeper travel into Antarctic territory. He faces charges rooted in two articles of the country's aeronautical code, one of which carries potential penalties including short-term imprisonment. Furthermore, Guo has been accused of breaching the Antarctic Treaty, which governs the use of the uninhabited continent.
Despite the daunting situation, Guo provided reassurance through a social media update on X, stating: "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon." The aspiring aviator has successfully completed flights across the other six continents over a period exceeding 140 days, and hopes to achieve his global circumnavigation soon, contributing his efforts to a noble cause.