Chile Drops Charges, Orders Fine Paid To Cancer Research Charity

An American teenage pilot and influencer stuck on an island in Antarctica has had charges against him dropped by the Chilean government, but the judge ordered him to pay a fine to a children’s cancer charity, which was the reason he landed there and got arrested in the first place.

19-year-old Ethan Guo landed his airplane on King George Island, which is named after the UK’s King George III but its ownership is claimed by the government of Chile. His flight took him from Punta Arenas in southern Chile to the island as part of his project to fly solo to all seven continents to raise money for cancer research, according to local authorities.

The charges accused him of providing false flight plan information to officials who detained him. He is alleged to have filed a flight plan to fly over Punta Arenas but not beyond that, according to the officials. He was charged on June 29 but those were dropped on August 11.

The judge ordered him to leave the island, pay a $30,000 donation to a children’s cancer foundation, and is banned from Chilean territory for three years.

After the judge’s ruling, Guo told the AP news agency, "I remain in Antarctica awaiting approval for my departure flight. I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with my original mission."

Chilean prosecutor Cristián Cristoso said that Guo violated "multiple national and international" rules governing access to Antarctica and the routes used to travel there. He also noted the unauthorized flight posed safety risks for other air travelers.

Guo announced his project in 2024 when he began his attempt to become the youngest pilot to fly solo to all seven continents while collecting donations for childhood cancer research. He had already visited the six other continents when he flew his Cessna 182Q from Punta Arenas to King George Island.

He has been staying at a military base but is permitted to travel on the island that is home to numerous scientific research stations and is considered the unofficial capital of Antarctica. It has the only airport in the South Shetland Islands and is a major hub for scientific activity and the supporting logistics.

After his cousin was diagnosed with cancer, Guo became inspired to raise $1 million for cancer research at St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

FMI:  www.state.gov/