American pilot and influencer Ethan Guo, 19, was detained over the weekend after carrying out a risky and unauthorized landing in Chilean Antarctica. Guo had taken off from Punta Arenas airport—over 3,000 kilometers south of Santiago—and changed his flight plan without notifying aviation authorities, ultimately landing at the Teniente Marsh airfield, located in Antarctic territory under Chilean jurisdiction.
Chile’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) immediately activated emergency protocols, deploying aerial resources to locate him. “This involved the use of state resources and posed risks to operational safety,” the agency stated in an official release. They also warned that the unauthorized landing constituted a violation of the Antarctic Statute, further complicating the young pilot’s legal standing.
The DGAC filed a complaint with the local Prosecutor’s Office, citing violations of Chile’s Aeronautics Code and Antarctic regulations. While the investigation—led by the Maritime Police—moves forward, Guo has been placed under travel restrictions and is required to report monthly to authorities in Punta Arenas.
On Instagram, Guo explained that his goal is to become the youngest pilot to fly across all seven continents before turning 20. His mission, he says, is to raise $1 million to support childhood cancer research, inspired by a cousin his age who was diagnosed with the disease in 2021.
“I want to use every opportunity to raise awareness about childhood cancer and highlight the need for more research to find better prevention and treatment methods,” he wrote. In an emotional post, he added: “This mission is deeply personal. It’s for my cousin and for everyone fighting this disease. Every step of this journey is driven by hope.”
Guo shared that his passion for flying began at age 13. He earned his private pilot license at 17, holds an IFR rating (which allows him to fly solely by instruments), has flown across the 48 contiguous U.S. states, crossed the Atlantic three times, and logged over 700 flight hours.
Now, the young pilot faces a complex legal process in Chile—one that could jeopardize his ambitious, charitable mission.
