Influencer stuck in Antarctica since June can leave after paying £22,000

Ethan Guo was on a mission to help raise funds for children’s cancer and break a flying record.

But in June, his journey around the world took an unexpected turn and Guo has been stuck in a remote location in Chilean Antarctic territory since.

The influencer began his journey last year, attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents.

At the same time, he was raising money for children’s cancer research, inspired by his cousin’s battle with the disease.

The Chilean authorities accused Guo of landing his small plane illegally after providing false flight plan information to officials.

Prosecutors say Guo was authorised to fly his plane over Punta Arenas, but instead, he kept going south, heading for Antarctica.

Ethan maintains he is innocent of the accusations against him.

On June 29, Guo was charged with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorisation.

Ethan began his journey in 2024, with the hopes of being the youngest pilot to fly to all seven continents whilst raising money for children’s cancer.

On Monday, a judge dropped the charges against Guo as part of an agreement with his lawyers and Chilean prosecutors.

The agreement requires the influencer to donate $30,000 (around £22,000) to a children’s cancer charity within 30 days, to avoid going to trial.

He’s also required to leave the country as soon as conditions allow him to do so and is prohibited from returning to Chilean territory for three years.

According to Guo’s defence, the influencer was granted authorisation to deviate from his initial route, which was from Punta Arenas in Southern Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina, and land at Teniente Marsh base in Chilean Antarctica due to “weather and technical circumstances.”

“Mr Guo informed the DGAC as soon as possible of the change to the filed flight plan, receiving express authorisation to land at said aerodrome,” Guo’s Lawyer, Jamie Barrientos.

Guo, who turned 20 during his stay in Antarctica in July and has maintained his innocence, said in a statement that during his original journey, he “encountered instrument failures and heavy, unreported icing conditions” which created “an imminent risk of a crash”.

“Due to these cascading failures, Mr Guo requested and received explicit, direct permission to land at the Marsh base from a high-ranking DGAC official via WhatsApp, an authorisation that was subsequently confirmed by the base’s air traffic controller,” the statement said.

Guo added that the court ruling last Monday was a “direct result of the prosecutor’s refusal to acknowledge this clear evidence.”

The prosecutor’s office has maintained in interviews with local media that Guo has handed “ false information” to the respective authority and, by doing so, put at risk “the safety of global air traffic”.

“What the background indicates is that he always had the will and the knowledge that he wanted to reach Antarctica at all costs, putting at risk not only his life, but also the safety of global air traffic,” prosecutor Cristián Crisosto told local Radio Bio Bio in an interview on Wednesday.

Guo previously told AP that he remains in Antarctica and awaits approval for his departure flight.

“I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with my original mission.”

The prosecutor’s office said Guo must also pay all costs for his “aircraft security and personal maintenance” during his stay at the military facility.

He also needs to cover all expenses for his return.

For the past six weeks, Guo has not been able to leave the region and has been staying on a military base since.

In addition, severe weather and wintry conditions meant flights were cancelled, and Guo was unable to fly his plane.

Crisosto said that the plane would probably have difficulty leaving Antarctica because it does not meet the necessary regulations.

“That plane could leave Antarctica in pieces. But I don’t see it flying,” he warned.