A teenage pilot attempting to set a world record by flying solo to all seven continents has been detained by authorities after landing in Antarctica without permission, CNN reported.
Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old American influencer, had set out on the mission to raise funds for childhood cancer research. He has been documenting his solo journey across the globe since September, garnering more than one million Instagram followers.
On June 28, Chilean prosecutors allege that Guo submitted a false flight plan at Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas, indicating he would fly over the city. However, authorities claim he deviated from this plan without notification, continuing toward Antarctica and landing at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory.
Prosecutors allege that Guo violated “multiple national and international regulations” by altering his flight path without prior approval and touching down on a portion of Antarctica claimed by Chile.
Guo’s legal team told CNN that he experienced “complications” while flying but did not elaborate. As of now, Guo has not publicly commented on the incident.
The Chilean court has decreed a 90-day investigation period, during which Guo must remain in Chile. It is unclear whether Guo will face charges or be allowed to continue his global mission.
Nutbars emerge out of the woodwork or in this case icefields and snowdrifts. This publicity stunt does not help either himself, his stated cause or G.A. The freedom to use your own judgement and act on it using a high profile activity which general aviation is discredits all other responsible individuals and invites censure from all others who may not have any appreciation of the rules and demands our activity requires. What a loss, and shame.
Age 19 with 46 years remaining in a potential career… not bad. But he chose poorly. Bad ADM. Going into intention violation of international laws. Say Buh Bye to AA, DAL SWA, UAL, UPS, FedEX.
Who needs an airline job when they can be an influencer raking millions on YouTube…
Especially dumb if he asked for permission before and it was denied (like the guys swapping planes midair).
Beginning to develop allergic reactions when I read anything about “influencers”. I’ve got 99% of my social media permanently disabled just to avoid being influenced…
I recall doing a few dumb things at 19, but nothing quite like this. Perhaps an anti-authority attitude (born in the 60s… yes I remember those days) is more prevalent now, but certainly not helpful if this young man intended to have a formal career in aviation… or a long career in general.
I’ve dreamed of doing things like this, but got no further than a dream. I’ll just continue to fly with the occasional student and for the simple pleasure of leaving the ground (and my cares) for awhile.
Can you say WRONG WAY CORIGIN/GUO?
Why not just claim he got lost and decare an emergency.
Antarctica is the most sensitive ecosystem on the planet, which is why it’s so difficult to convince any of its stakeholder guardians to allow humans to set foot on it. I think they should have tied-down his plane with him locked in it until his lawyers arrived. The problem may well have solved itself, and provided a cautionary tale for other “influencers”. History is replete with folks doing evil in the name of a good cause.
What is social media…? [/sarc]
All I can say, Jason, is your best course would be to disable ALL social media.
This nonsense is a prime example of how “social media”, all of it, is a societal cancer that thrives due to peoples’ thirst for validation and notoriety. “Tom Waarne”, in his post above, refers to “the rules and demands our activity requires”, and rightly so.
But for a “social media influencer”, none of that matters. Once one achieves “influencer” status, one’s every thought is on how to get the “Likes” number up. It consumes them, and motivates them to do stupid things that sometimes endanger innocent others, all for “Likes”.
It’s a sick mentality, one I wouldn’t touch with the preverbial 10-foot pole. IMO, “social media” should be outlawed - no one needs it.
“Social media” and “good cause” is an oxymoron.
Here’s my question: What in the world is he doing flying to Antarctica in the dead of winter? It may be summer up here, but right now, Antarctica is getting 24 hour darkness and temperatures well below zero in either C or F degrees. Cold enough to congeal the oil in your sump while the engine is running. Definitely not the best time to be flying solo in near radio silence.
Maybe because it’s Independence Day or just because, but I have to come to Guo’s defense just a little.
We tend to sledgehammer pilots who want to explain accident causes before the final analysis is in, maybe we could allow a bit of daylight to a young adventurer trying to raise funds for childhood cancer research?
“Chilean prosecutors allege…Authorities claim…court has decreed a 90 day investigation period”
In the same week that 16 yr old Sullivan flew 13 planes on his birthday we have another bold young aviator with fresh, adolescent cojones. Social media is their world - take a nap if it’s too much to handle.
Ya stole my thunder, Dave … but I see it the other way.
BOTH this kid and Sullivan are using fallacious ADM. Both showcase why the age for ratings either ought to be raised a bit OR have a requirement for CFI overview of out of the ordinary flight attempts. THIS kid – more so than Sullivan – is doing nothing more than trying to collect likes at the risk of his life and that of others trying to rescue him had he wound up in the drink. I looked up the distance over water and it’s quite a ways apart. SO … he clearly lied about over flying the Punta Arenas airport. I hope he gets some time in the crowbar hotel eating bread and water.
Now then, just a few days ago, you guys piled onto the current nominee for FAA Administrator for “lying” about his pilot certificate level as if he should get the electric chair. Now THIS kid does this and some of you see it differently. Amazing logic !!
“Youth, divine treasure, you depart and won’t return.” — Rubén Darío
At 19, I stuck to Pier 59 in Hermosa Beach, California. I was chasing dreams too, they wore bikinis, not parkas. Biggest risks back then were sunburns and parking tickets. But I get it. The kid had big goals and a good cause.
Still, flying is not something you just wing, especially not into Antarctic winter. That’s not bold, that’s flirting with real trouble. A little humility in aviation goes a long way.
That said, he’s young. We’ve all done reckless things at that age. If he walks away from this with some hard-earned lessons about rules, risk, and respect, it could shape him into a better pilot. Aviation teaches fast if you’re lucky enough to walk away from the lesson.
‘I hope he gets some time in the crowbar hotel eating bread and water.’
Sounds like that hotel is likely to be haunted… yet personally, I’d prefer simply a Brasher warning with appropriate followup and personal responsibility, but that’s just me.
Now, if he had landed on a closed runway with a large X (which indeed marks the spot) holding a certified commercial pilot’s license, endangering lives, and initially blamed his secretary that he had not been informed of the closure (such leaders we are blessed with), then the bread should be stale and the water dirty. Or turned off his transponder and illegally flew under a bridge, or landed on a taxiway, or lied about a rating and oh, so many more examples. The Horror!
Point being, the teen we are speaking of here does not and cannot compare to someone who, after a lifetime of experience to learn humility, responsibility and the opportunity to set an example is not running to be in charge of a major government agency - the FAA - he’s just a passionate, idealistic kid who loves to fly, so today, Larry, I agree with you!
Amazing logic!!
Happy Independence Day, from one Vet to another.
Well … hopefully he’ll make enough $$$ as an ‘influencer’ to run his life, then, since he isn’t going to be pointing a big aluminum mailing tube anywhere. I’d want to know did HE pay for that nice 182 or is he being funded some other way? Finally, he needs a haircut … the Viet Nam war ended 50 years ago
Yes … I wish all who put a uniform on in our military a Happy Fourth. I just found out I’ll be aboard the Honor Flight traveling to DC out of Airventure 2025. A great honor !!
He is not the first person to just show up in Antarctica with no permission in a GA airplane. Didn’t someone else do it in an RV some years ago?
No, he just demonstrated how FAFO works. He learned the easy way, if he would have gone down in the freezing water he would have got a much harsher lesson and moved from FAFO to Darwin Award Finalist.
“… funds for childhood cancer research …” according to the news article.
Congratulations, Larry! The Honor Flight is a big deal, and we in Vintage do our best to make sure there’s a big crowd when you return.
Sounds like a pretty cool trip. I would think it’s note worthy of he was just following a magenta line it’s sort of anti climatic, but if he wasn’t, that’s pretty cool.