SANTIAGO — 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 online by more than a million people.
Chilean authorities stopped Ethan Guo, 19, after he submitted a false flight plan, according to 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.
Guo was taken into custody after landing on King George Island, home to a number of international research stations and their staff, where July temperatures typically stay well below freezing.
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.
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 with 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 Guo had also allegedly violated the Antarctic Treaty, which regulates international relations with respect to the uninhabited continent.
Guo posted an update on X on Wednesday, saying: "I'm alive everyone, I'll make an update soon."
