Latest news with #PuntaArenas
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
American teenager arrested after illegally flying to Antarctica
An American teenager who is trying to fly solo to all seven continents in order to raise money for cancer research, has been arrested after landing in Antarctica without permission. Authorities in Chile allege Ethan Guo, 19, broke 'multiple national and international regulations' after changing a flight plan without informing officials and landing in part of the Antarctic where it has a territorial claim. 'I want to become the first person in history to fly solo to all seven continents in a small aircraft and raise $1 million for cancer research,' Mr Guo writes on his website. He adds: 'In 2021 my cousin was diagnosed with cancer. I admire him. He inspired me to take life more seriously and join the fight against cancer.' CNN said that last weekend Mr Guo submitted a flight plan and took off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas. He was the only person on the Cessna 182Q aircraft. At some point, he started veering off course towards Antarctica. '[He] continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorisation, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory,' Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the regional prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, said in a statement. He added: 'With this behaviour, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region.' Mr Cristoso said as soon as he landed in the Antarctic, the young man was held and charged. 'The accused not only violated the Aeronautical Code but also multiple national and international regulations regarding routes to Antarctica and access to the white continent,' said Mr Crisosto. Mr Guo's lawyer, Karina Ulloa, told reporters that while in the air, her client 'began to experience a series of complications'. Officials have ordered a 90-day investigation, during which time Mr Guo must remain in the region. Mr Guo, who was born in China but lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, says on his website his 'passion for aviation began at the age of 13'. 'I earned my private pilot licence at 17,' he adds. 'I am IFR-rated, which means that I can fly using instruments alone, without visual ground reference. I have flown to all 48 contiguous US states and crossed the Atlantic three times, amassing over 700 hours of flight time.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Teen pilot detained in Antarctica during solo fly attempt to 7 continents
(NewsNation) — A teenage American pilot has been detained in Antarctica during his quest to become the youngest pilot to fly to all seven continents, according to multiple reports. Ethan Guo, 19, has been accused by Chile of submitting a false flight plan and landing in Antarctica without permission. Buying a home? You'll need a $17K raise, Zillow finds Guo, who is from Memphis, Tennessee, was detained and charged with submitting a false flight plan before heading towards the South Pole on June 28, the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor's Office said, according to The New York Post. Guo is also hoping to raise $1 million for cancer research on the voyage. British online newspaper The Independent reports that his brush with the Chilean authorities occurred on Saturday after he took off from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. His Cessna 182Q aircraft was diverted and landed at an airfield in Chilean Antarctic territory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
American teen pilot held on small island in Antarctica
An American teenager has been detained on an Antarctic island, creating a major delay in his attempt to fly his small plane to every continent that is being followed on-line by more than a million people. Chilean authorities stopped Ethan Guo, 19, after he submitted a false flight plan, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. His deviation from that plan in the air had "activated alert protocols", Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said in a statement. Mr Guo was taken into custody after landing on King George Island, home to a number of international research stations and their staffs, where July temperatures typically stay well below freezing. Mr Guo's small Cessna 182 aircraft took off from the city of Punta Arenas, near the southernmost point of Chile, and flew to the island off the Atlantic coast, which is claimed by Chile. It is named after England's King George III. He was detained at Teniente R. Marsh airport. Mr Guo had allegedly submitted a plan to fly over Punta Arenas, but not beyond that, according to regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo, as cited by CBS. He has been charged for violating two articles of the country's aeronautical code, including one that could lead to short-term imprisonment. In the statement, Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said Mr Guo had also allegedly violated the Antarctic Treaty, which regulates international relations with respect to the uninhabited continent. Mr Guo posted an update on X on Wednesday, saying: "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon." Ethan Guo has flown his Cessna aircraft to all the other six continents in his journey spanning more than 140 days, according to his social media feed. He is hoping to become the first pilot to complete solo flights across all seven continents in the Cessna aircraft, and simultaneously aims to raise $1m (£ 731,000) for cancer research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
American teen pilot detained on small island in Antarctica
An American teenager has been detained on an Antarctic island, creating a major delay in his attempt to fly his small plane to every continent that is being followed on-line by more than a million people. Chilean authorities stopped Ethan Guo, 19, after he submitted a false flight plan, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. His deviation from that plan in the air had "activated alert protocols", Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said in a Guo was taken into custody after landing on King George Island, home to a number of international research stations and their staffs, where July temperatures typically stay well below freezing. Mr Guo's small Cessna 182 aircraft took off from the city of Punta Arenas, near the southernmost point of Chile, and flew to the island off the Atlantic coast, which is claimed by Chile. It is named after England's King George was detained at Teniente R. Marsh Guo had allegedly submitted a plan to fly over Punta Arenas, but not beyond that, according to regional prosecutor Cristian Cristoso Rifo, as cited by has been charged for violating two articles of the country's aeronautical code, including one that could lead to short-term the statement, Chile's General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics said Mr Guo had also allegedly violated the Antarctic Treaty, which regulates international relations with respect to the uninhabited continent. Mr Guo posted an update on X on Wednesday, saying: "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon."Ethan Guo has flown his Cessna aircraft to all the other six continents in his journey spanning more than 140 days, according to his social media feed. He is hoping to become the first pilot to complete solo flights across all seven continents in the Cessna aircraft, and simultaneously aims to raise $1m (£ 731,000) for cancer research at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
American teen detained in Antarctica after attempting solo flight to all seven continents
An American teenager attempting a historic solo flight around the world to raise awareness for childhood cancer was detained in Antarctica after allegedly landing without proper authorization. Ethan Guo, 19, set out to become the first person in history to fly solo to all seven continents in a small Cessna 182Q aircraft. His mission: to raise $1 million for cancer research - a cause inspired by his own cousin's cancer diagnosis in 2021, according to the young pilot's website. With 60 countries visited, more than 60 takeoffs and landings, and over 700 hours of flight time, the teen has amassed millions of followers across his social media platforms, where he's been documenting his solo trip - a journey that has already stretched beyond 100 days. But on Saturday, the influencer's 'flight against cancer' came to an abrupt halt when Chilean authorities detained him, claiming he violated 'multiple national and international regulations' by landing in Antarctica without proper clearance, as reported by CNN. According to Chilean prosecutors, Guo submitted a falsified flight plan and veered off course, ultimately landing in a section of Antarctica where Chile maintains a territorial claim. 'The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority,' Cristian Cisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, told CNN. 'He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas,' Rifo added. 'However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization,' he further alleged. 'With this behavior, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region.' On June 23, Guo posted his latest update on Instagram, documenting a leg of his journey as he flew over the Philippines. 'Day 142 of flying to all 7 continents in order to raise a million dollars to fight cancer!' he captioned the post, noting that he had completed 650 miles of the journey so far. But no further post followed, as South American authorities claimed that Guo had filed a false flight plan before taking off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas. Authorities alleged that after taking off as the sole passenger and crew member aboard the aircraft - registered as N182WT - Guo abruptly diverted from his planned submitted route, ultimately veering off course toward Antarctica. Both the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor's Offices confirmed in a translated post on X Sunday that 'a U.S. pilot had submitted a false flight plan and landed on an airfield runway in Antarctica.' Upon landing at the Chilean-controlled airstrip, Guo was detained by authorities and formally charged with violating airspace regulations and submitting a false flight plan. 'The accused not only violated the Aeronautical Code but also multiple national and international regulations regarding routes to Antarctica and access to the white continent,' Crisosto told CNN. Karina Ulloa, Guo's lawyer, said that the teenager had experienced 'a series of complications' while 'already in the air,' CNN reported. His lawyer explained that the diversion occurred because 'he was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not.' As of Wednesday, the 19-year-old pilot remained in Antarctica due to weather complications that have prevented scheduling a return flight to Chile. He has been ordered to remain in the Chilean-controlled sector of Antarctica until authorities grant permission for his return to Punta Arenas. Once Guo returns to Chile, he will be required to remain in the country for a 90-day investigation period, as mandated by the Chilean court.
