Young Aviator's Antarctic Adventure Ends with Legal Troubles

Ethan Guo, an aspiring record-breaking aviator, was detained by Chilean authorities after landing on an unapproved site in Antarctica. While he is now allowed to leave the island, his future hangs on the resolution of legal proceedings.

Teenage aviation enthusiast Ethan Guo, only 19 years old, has made headlines after an ambitious attempt to fly solo to all seven continents landed him in trouble with Chilean authorities. Guo was detained this week after landing his small aircraft on an unapproved island off Antarctica’s coast, spurring a legal inquiry into his actions.

Currently housed in a Chilean base situated on King George Island, approximately 75 miles from Antarctica’s coast, Guo acknowledged his predicament during an interview. The authorities have since released him from custody, stipulating he must remain in Chile until the resolution of his case.

Guo, who boasts an impressive following of 1.3 million on Instagram and 329,000 on TikTok, has been documenting his journey worldwide with the hopes of becoming the first person to complete solo flights to all seven continents. With dreams of raising $1 million for cancer research, his ultimate goal was to land on Antarctica— the last continent on his list.

On Saturday morning, Guo had departed from Punta Arenas, a southern Chilean city, under the assumption he would return safely after flying over the area. However, his unsanctioned landing has led to an uncertain future as the teenager navigates the legal consequences of his adventure.