American teen pilot looking to raise $1 mn for cancer research detained on small Antarctica island
According to a report by the BBC, Ethan Guo was stopped after he landed on King George Island. Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said Guo had submitted a false flight plan and changed his route mid-air, which triggered emergency protocols.
Guo had planned to fly only over the city of Punta Arenas in southern Chile, but instead flew further south to King George Island. He was detained at Teniente R. Marsh airport, which serves research stations on the island, as reported by CBS News.
Regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo told CBS that Guo has been charged under two articles of Chile's aeronautical code. One of them could lead to a short jail sentence. The authorities also said he may have broken rules under the Antarctic Treaty, which controls activity on the continent.
King George Island, where Guo landed, is located off the Atlantic coast of Antarctica and is claimed by Chile. It is home to several international research stations.
Guo later posted on social media, saying, 'I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon.'
As per BBC reporting, Guo has already flown his small Cessna 182 aircraft to six continents over a journey lasting more than 140 days. His goal is to fly solo to every continent and raise $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the US.
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