Ethan Guo, a 20-year-old American influencer and pilot, is breaking his silence after spending a gruelling six weeks stuck on Antarctica. The reason? Chilean authorities accused him of landing without permission and giving “false flight information” during his record attempt to fly solo to all seven continents.
Guo began his journey last year at just 19, aiming to become the youngest person ever to complete the feat—while also raising money for children’s cancer research through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His trip took a dramatic turn in July when his Cessna light aircraft landed on King George Island in the Antarctic territory administered by Chile. Officials said it was an illegal landing, sparking a legal case that kept him grounded far longer than he ever imagined.
The Legal Twist
On Monday, a Chilean judge abruptly dropped the charges as part of a deal: Guo must donate $30,000 (about €25,000) to a children’s cancer fund within 30 days to avoid further prosecution. But Guo insists the real story is different—claiming he was effectively acquitted and that Chilean officials knew about his emergency landing in advance.
His Version of Events
Guo says his original destination was Ushuaia, Argentina, supported by his filed flight plan and receipts. But, he claims, due to bureaucratic confusion, Chilean officials advised him to circle over Tierra del Fuego in the dark until sunrise before heading to Ushuaia.
While following those instructions, Guo says he hit bad weather over the Andes, leading to icing problems. To avoid disaster, he diverted over the ocean—where he then suffered engine trouble. At that point, he says, he got explicit permission via WhatsApp to land at Chile’s Marsh military base on King George Island.
Grounded and Stranded
Despite this, prosecutors refused to acknowledge the evidence. Even after the case was resolved, Guo says he wasn’t allowed to leave the Chilean air base—leaving him stranded on Antarctica for 1.5 months. Authorities argue his Cessna can’t safely make it to Chile’s Punta Arenas due to fuel limitations; Guo insists it can.
Health and Heartbreak
The ordeal took a serious toll. According to his lawyer, Guo lost 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and developed pericarditis—inflammation of the heart lining—likely due to stress. Worse still, his aircraft remains stuck, halting his record attempt and charity mission.
“I’m grateful for the efforts to get me a seat on a ship,” Guo says, “but I’m frustrated there’s no plan for my plane. Without it, I can’t finish my mission for St. Jude.”
For now, Ethan Guo is back on solid ground—but his Antarctic chapter remains an icy mix of adventure, bureaucracy, and personal sacrifice.
