Latest news with #soloaviation
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.
Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Telegraph
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
02-07-2025
- CNN
US teen influencer detained in Antarctica while attempting solo flight to 7 continents
A teenage pilot, who is attempting to fly all seven continents solo, hit a patch of rough air this weekend when Chilean authorities detained him for changing his flight plan without their permission and landing in Antarctica. Chilean prosecutors say American influencer Ethan Guo, 19, broke 'multiple national and international regulations' by changing his flight plans without prior notice, landing on a part of Antarctica where the South American country maintains a territorial claim. CNN requested a comment from Guo, whose lawyer on Sunday said the young pilot had experienced 'complications' while flying. Guo, whose website states he is trying to raise $1 million for cancer research by becoming 'the first person ever to fly to all seven continents solo,' has broadcast his continent-hopping journey since last September to more than a million Instagram followers. His last post, on June 23, documents a flight over the Philippines. Chilean authorities say that on Saturday, Guo submitted a false flight plan and took off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas as the sole passenger and crew member aboard a Cessna 182Q aircraft, registered as N182WT. At one point during that flight, authorities say he turned off course toward Antarctica. 'The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority. He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas,' said Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. 'However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory. With this behavior, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region,' the prosecutor added. Cristoso explained that as soon as Guo landed in Antarctica, he was detained and formally 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,' emphasized Crisosto. On Sunday, his lawyer told reporters at a press conference after Guo was charged that the young pilot experienced 'complications' while flying. 'While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,' Karina Ulloa said, adding that Guo claims 'that he was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not.' CNN requested a comment from Ulloa on Tuesday. The Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor's Office determined on Sunday that the teen must remain in the Chilean sector of the frozen continent until authorities give him permission to return to the city of Punta Arenas. The Chilean court decreed a 90-day investigation period for this case, during which time Guo must remain in Chile.
CNN
02-07-2025
- CNN
US teen influencer detained in Antarctica while attempting solo flight to 7 continents
A teenage pilot, who is attempting to fly all seven continents solo, hit a patch of rough air this weekend when Chilean authorities detained him for changing his flight plan without their permission and landing in Antarctica. Chilean prosecutors say American influencer Ethan Guo, 19, broke 'multiple national and international regulations' by changing his flight plans without prior notice, landing on a part of Antarctica where the South American country maintains a territorial claim. CNN requested a comment from Guo, whose lawyer on Sunday said the young pilot had experienced 'complications' while flying. Guo, whose website states he is trying to raise $1 million for cancer research by becoming 'the first person ever to fly to all seven continents solo,' has broadcast his continent-hopping journey since last September to more than a million Instagram followers. His last post, on June 23, documents a flight over the Philippines. Chilean authorities say that on Saturday, Guo submitted a false flight plan and took off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas as the sole passenger and crew member aboard a Cessna 182Q aircraft, registered as N182WT. At one point during that flight, authorities say he turned off course toward Antarctica. 'The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority. He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas,' said Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. 'However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory. With this behavior, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region,' the prosecutor added. Cristoso explained that as soon as Guo landed in Antarctica, he was detained and formally 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,' emphasized Crisosto. On Sunday, his lawyer told reporters at a press conference after Guo was charged that the young pilot experienced 'complications' while flying. 'While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,' Karina Ulloa said, adding that Guo claims 'that he was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not.' CNN requested a comment from Ulloa on Tuesday. The Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor's Office determined on Sunday that the teen must remain in the Chilean sector of the frozen continent until authorities give him permission to return to the city of Punta Arenas. The Chilean court decreed a 90-day investigation period for this case, during which time Guo must remain in Chile.
