NCS
—
A teenage pilot, who’s attempting to fly all seven continents solo, hit a patch of tough air this weekend when Chilean authorities detained him for altering his flight plan with out their permission and touchdown in Antarctica.
Chilean prosecutors say American influencer Ethan Guo, 19, broke “multiple national and international regulations” by altering his flight plans with out prior discover, touchdown on part of Antarctica the place the South American nation maintains a territorial declare.
NCS requested a remark from Guo, whose lawyer on Sunday mentioned the younger pilot had skilled “complications” while flying.
(*7*)
Guo, whose web site states he’s attempting to elevate $1 million for most cancers analysis by changing into “the first person ever to fly to all seven continents solo,” has broadcast his continent-hopping journey since final September to greater than 1,000,000 Instagram followers.
His final publish, on June 23, paperwork a flight over the Philippines.
Chilean authorities say that on Saturday, Guo submitted a false flight plan and took off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean metropolis of Punta Arenas as the only passenger and crew member aboard a Cessna 182Q plane, registered as N182WT. At one level throughout that flight, authorities say he turned astray towards Antarctica.
“The accused provided false information to the aeronautical authority. He submitted a flight plan indicating that he was going to fly over the city of Punta Arenas,” mentioned Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica.
“However, he continued toward Antarctica without informing anyone and without any authorization, landing at the airfield of Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base in Chilean Antarctic territory. With this behavior, the accused seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes region,” the prosecutor added.
Cristoso defined that as quickly as Guo landed in Antarctica, he was detained and formally charged. “The accused not only violated the Aeronautical Code but also multiple national and international regulations regarding routes to Antarctica and access to the white continent,” emphasised Crisosto.
On Sunday, his lawyer informed reporters at a press convention after Guo was charged that the younger pilot skilled “complications” while flying. “While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,” Karina Ulloa mentioned, including that Guo claims “that he was conducting an exploratory flight to see if he could follow this route or not.”
NCS requested a remark from Ulloa on Tuesday.
The Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor’s Office decided on Sunday that the teen should stay in the Chilean sector of the frozen continent till authorities give him permission to return to town of Punta Arenas.
The Chilean court docket decreed a 90-day investigation interval for this case, throughout which period Guo should stay in Chile.