Teen Pilot's Charges Dropped After Antarctica Detention

Ethan Guo, who aimed to raise funds for cancer research through a globe-spanning flight, can now continue his mission after local authorities dropped charges against him for illegal landing in Chilean territory.

Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old American pilot and social media influencer, has had the charges against him dropped after being detained on a remote island in Antarctica since June. Guo allegedly landed his plane in Chilean territory without authorization while on a mission to raise money for childhood cancer research. This flight is part of his quest to become the youngest person to fly solo across all seven continents.

Initially, Guo was detained after landing his small Cessna 182Q aircraft on King George Island, an area claimed by Chile. Local authorities accused him of providing false flight plan information and landing illegally, which led to a judicial investigation. A judge ruled on Monday that the charges would be dropped but imposed a fine requiring Guo to donate $30,000 (£22,332) to a children's cancer foundation. He has also been banned from entering Chilean territory for the next three years.

Guo, who gained media attention last year for embarking on this ambitious journey, had already completed stops on six continents by the time he reached South America. Following his landing at King George Island in June, he was held in custody due to concerns over his flight plan, which allegedly did not account for his landing beyond Punta Arenas. In a statement to the Associated Press, he expressed hope for a speedy approval for his departure flight from Antarctica to continue his charitable mission.

Currently, Mr. Guo has been stationed at a military base on the island for over six weeks. Due to adverse weather conditions, he has faced challenges in departing to other parts of Chile. His objective remains to raise a total of $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, inspired by his cousin's battle with cancer. With 140 days spent in the air during his journey thus far, Guo remains determined to fulfill his mission despite the legal troubles he faced in Antarctic territory.