Antarctica: An American teen has hit a major roadblock in Antarctica to become the first person to fly solo across all seven continents in a small plane.
Ethan Guo, 19, was detained by Chilean authorities after allegedly submitting a false flight plan before flying his single-engine aircraft to King George Island, a remote Antarctic outpost. According to Chile’s General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, Guo’s deviation from the approved route activated alert protocols, prompting his detention upon landing at Teniente R. Marsh Airport. The airport is situated on King George Island, home to several international research stations, where temperatures in July often remain well below freezing.
Guo had departed from Punta Arenas, a city near Chile’s southern tip, and reportedly filed a plan to fly only in the vicinity of the area, not to the Antarctic region. Authorities say his unsanctioned detour potentially violated both Chilean aviation law and provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, which governs international activity on the frozen continent.
Cristian Cristoso Rifo, a regional prosecutor, confirmed that Guo is facing charges under two articles of Chile’s aeronautical code, one of which carries the possibility of short-term imprisonment. The young aviator, who has already flown to six continents in his Cessna 182 over the past 140 days, shared a brief update on X, following the incident, stating that, “I’m alive everyone, I’ll make an update soon.”
Guo’s ambitious mission has gained a large online following, with over one million people tracking his progress as he aims to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his record-setting journey.
King George Island, where he was apprehended, is claimed by Chile and named after Britain’s King George III. It serves as a key hub for Antarctic operations but has strict access protocols given the region’s sensitive environmental and geopolitical status.
As legal proceedings unfold, it remains unclear whether Guo will be allowed to continue his expedition or face further penalties.
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