American Pilot Detained in Antarctica After Unapproved Flight, Fundraising for Cancer Research
Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old pilot with dual U.S.-Chinese citizenship, is currently at the center of a rather extraordinary, and now problematic, story. He’s been detained by Chilean authorities in Antarctica, a situation stemming from an unauthorized deviation in his flight plan. This deviation occurred after he took off from Punta Arenas. He altered his course and landed at the Teniente Marsh airfield on King George Island without the required prior approval.
The unauthorized change in his flight path initiated search protocols, requiring the deployment of Chilean state resources. This raised concerns about operational safety and violated regulations governing Antarctic airspace and legal statutes.… Continue reading