Our teen influencers have been stranded in the Antarctic of Chile since landing
Santiago, Chile (AP) – Designed as a fundraising mission for cancer research, becoming a nightmare for American teen influencer Ethan Guo, who has been trapped in remote areas of Antarctica’s Chilean territory since June.
Authorities said Guo illegally landed his small plane after providing false flight plan information to officials who opened the investigation.
Last year, the then-19-year-old teenager began traveling, trying to be the youngest to fly alone to all seven continents while collecting donations to study childhood cancer, which was Guo’s headlines.
As part of his trip, the teenager, who identified with the Asian American, planned to go to Antarctica, but according to authorities who lied to officials, he provided “false flight plan data” to the authorities. Prosecutors said he was authorized to fly over the Punta Arena only, but he kept heading south, heading to Antarctica in his Cessna 182q, a single-engine light aircraft known for its versatility.
Guo was accused of handing false information to unauthorized ground control and landing on June 29, but on Monday the judge will make the charges as part of a deal with lawyers and Chilean prosecutors. It asked the teen to donate $30,000 to the Children’s Cancer Foundation within 30 days to avoid trial. He also had to leave the country immediately if conditions permit, and prohibited the re-entry of Chilean territory for three years.
Guo told the Associated Press in a text message Monday that he was “comfortified by the outcome”.
He has remained at a military base for the past six weeks since the charges. He was not forced to stay there, but just stayed in Chilean territory, but because of the severe winter in that part of the southern hemisphere, he had no available flights. And he has been unable to drive the Cessna.
Chilean prosecutor Cristián Cristo told reporters on Monday that Guo’s plane “has no ability to fly” without providing details. But the American teen influencer said he was talking to the attorney to see if he could drive it.
“I stayed in Antarctica and waited for my approval to set off for the flight,” Guo told the Associated Press. “I sincerely hope they can give it to me as soon as possible so that my plane and I can continue my original mission.”
Guo also has to pay all fees for “aircraft safety and personal maintenance” during his stay at the military facility, the prosecutor’s office said. He also needs to pay all the fees he returns.
___
Follow AP’s report in Latin America and the Caribbean
