Ethan Guo, a 20-year-old American pilot, is stranded in Antarctica after being accused of landing illegally. His journey began in September 2024 from Memphis to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, chronicling the trip on Instagram. In late June, Guo landed his Cessna 182Q on King George Island in Chilean territory, leading to allegations from Chilean authorities that he lacked authorization and provided false flight plans. He was charged on June 29 with these offenses. Guo and his legal team assert he had received permission through WhatsApp from a senior official in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) prior to landing.
His attorneys explained that Guo faced severe weather and instrument failures while flying, causing him to divert from his intended path. They revealed that he had obtained explicit authorization to land at Marsh base from a DGAC official via text. On Monday, the charges against Guo were dropped in exchange for a $30,000 donation to a Chilean children’s cancer foundation, but he has been barred from entering Chile for three years.
Despite the dismissal of charges, Guo remains unable to leave due to harsh winter weather and a lack of available flights. He described his situation as “insane,” mentioning that, while he and his plane are technically cleared, officials still won’t permit him to fly out. Guo’s food supply is limited, and his communication with the outside world is restricted. He continues to express frustration over the lack of clarity regarding his departure from the Antarctic base.
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