Ethan Guo, an American pilot and social media influencer, was released from a Chilean Antarctic military base on Sept. 6, 2025, after two months of detention; a judge ordered fines, a donation of funds raised and a three-year ban from Chile.
Key Takeaways
- Guo landed in Chile’s Antarctic territory on June 28, 2025, in a single-engine Cessna 182Q and was detained at a military base.
- Chilean prosecutors say he provided false flight-plan data and exceeded an authorization that allowed only an overflight of Punta Arenas.
- His lawyers say poor weather forced a diversion and that he had authorization to land.
- He spent roughly two months at the base with limited communications and winter temperatures below zero.
- A judge released Guo on condition he pay $30,000 in penalties, donate the funds he raised for childhood cancer research within 30 days, leave Chile promptly and not return for three years.
- Guo, who was 19 when the fundraising mission began and turned 20 in July, returned to Punta Arenas aboard a navy ship and spoke to reporters about his treatment while detained.
Verified Facts
On June 28, 2025, Guo landed his Cessna 182Q on territory administered by Chile in Antarctica. Authorities detained him at a local military station while they reviewed whether his flight plan and permissions matched his route. Prosecutors say his paperwork showed only authorization to fly over Punta Arenas, not to land in Antarctic territory.
Guo was undertaking an attempt to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents and had been raising money for childhood cancer research. He began the mission at age 19 and turned 20 in July 2025. During detention he lived on the base, with restricted communications and exposure to Antarctic winter conditions that routinely fall below freezing.
On Sept. 6, 2025, a Chilean judge ordered Guo’s release under several conditions: payment of $30,000 in penalties, donation of the funds he raised to a childhood cancer foundation within 30 days, prompt departure from Chilean territory and a three-year entry ban. Guo disembarked back in Punta Arenas wearing a Chilean national team jersey and described his confinement as limited but marked by hospitality from local personnel.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| June 28, 2025 | Guo lands in Chilean Antarctic territory; detained at military base |
| July 2025 | Guo turns 20 |
| June 28–Sept. 6, 2025 | Approximately two months of detention on base |
| Sept. 6, 2025 | Released by judge; ordered to pay fines, donate funds and leave Chile; three-year ban imposed |
Context & Impact
Flights to and landings in Antarctic territories are tightly regulated by national authorities and subject to international agreements and safety standards. Unauthorized landings can trigger legal and logistical responses, including detention and fines, because of environmental protections and limited search-and-rescue capacity.
The case highlights tensions between adventure travel promoted on social media and regulatory frameworks designed to protect remote regions. Authorities often cite safety, environmental risk and the need for clear flight documentation when enforcing penalties.
For charities and donors, the outcome may raise questions about how funds collected during high-profile travel campaigns are handled. The court-ordered donation aims to ensure funds go to the intended purpose, but the episode could affect public perception of influencer-led fundraisers.
- Aviation safety: stricter scrutiny of small private flights to polar regions may follow.
- Diplomatic/fiscal impact: fines and entry bans serve as deterrents and clarify enforcement.
“He landed because he had to divert due to poor weather and he did receive authorization, so his arrest was an exaggeration,” said Jaime Barrientos, Guo’s lawyer, summarizing the defense position.
Jaime Barrientos, defense lawyer
Unconfirmed
- Whether Guo intentionally provided false flight-plan data or whether discrepancies arose from last-minute weather-related changes.
- The exact total amount raised for cancer research and the timeline for its transfer to the designated foundation.
- Any further administrative or criminal actions beyond the judge’s current conditions.
Bottom Line
The release closes the immediate legal episode but leaves unresolved questions about authorization, fundraising transparency and regulatory enforcement for private flights to Antarctica. The conditions imposed — fines, a mandated donation and a three-year ban — are intended to resolve the matter quickly while underscoring the legal obligations of pilots operating in sensitive territories.