Teenage Pilot in Antarctica: Legal Trouble for Adventurer

Ethan Guo, documented his solo flight journey on social media but now finds himself navigating legal hurdles in Chile.

Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old American content creator, was recently embroiled in legal issues after landing his plane on an unapproved island near Antarctica while attempting to be the first person to solo-fly to all seven continents. Guo, who is known for documenting his journeys on TikTok and Instagram—with over 1.3 million followers—had initially been detained by Chilean authorities. He was found to be on King George Island, located around 75 miles off Antarctica's coast, after departing from Punta Arenas, Chile, early Saturday.

While Guo aimed to fly solo to raise funds for cancer research, the adventurous endeavor has led to complications. After initially being detained, authorities have allowed him to leave while remaining in Chile until his case concludes. Guo set off with a flight plan that indicated a round trip to Punta Arenas, but his unauthorized landing prompted legal considerations, which he is now navigating while remaining hopeful for the successful completion of his world-spanning flight mission.