20-year-old American Pilot Is Stuck In Antarctica For Weeks In Legal Drama Over Airport Landing

A 20-year-old American aviator who is walking crossed nan globe to raise money for puerility crab investigation has been stuck successful Antarctica for much than a period aft he was accused of illegally landing there.

Ethan Guo, past 19, began his journey successful Memphis, Tennessee, successful September 2024 to raise $1 cardinal for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Guo has been documenting his travel connected Instagram.

In precocious June, his travel astir nan world derailed aft he landed his single-engine Cessna 182Q successful a distant location successful Chilean territory successful Antarctica.

Chilean authorities alleged that he was not authorized to onshore astatine nan airdrome connected King George Island and provided mendacious formation scheme data, a press release states. He was charged connected June 29 pinch handing mendacious accusation to crushed power and landing without authorization, The Associated Press reported.

But Guo and his ineligible squad person denied that he illegally landed connected nan continent, saying that he sewage support via a matter connection connected WhatsApp from a elder charismatic pinch nan Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

In a statement, his lawyers said “due to bureaucratic disorder complete formation norm permissions,” Chilean officials told Guo to circle successful nan acheronian complete Tierra del Fuego successful South America earlier continuing his formation to Ushuaia, Argentina.

“While doing so, he encountered instrumentality failures and heavy, unreported icing conditions caused by precocious unreality screen complete nan Andes,” his lawyers said.

The conditions created “an imminent consequence of crash,” truthful Guo diverted complete nan ocean.

“Once complete nan ocean, he knowledgeable engine-related issues,” they said. “Due to these cascading failures, Mr. Guo requested and received explicit, nonstop support to onshore astatine nan Marsh guidelines from a high-ranking DGAC charismatic via WhatsApp, an authorization that was subsequently confirmed by nan base’s aerial postulation controller.”

Jaime Barrientos Ramírez, an lawyer for Guo, shared a screenshot of his connection to nan official.

“Can I onshore astatine SCRM,” he asked, referring to nan King George Island airport.

The charismatic responded, “Yes” pinch a thumbs-up emoji.

On Monday, nan charges against Guo were dropped arsenic portion of an statement that he donate $30,000 to a children’s crab instauration successful Chile. Officials said he has 30 days to make nan aid and is besides prohibited from entering Chilean territory for 3 years.

In a bid of posts connected X, Guo said that his lawsuit had been dropped, but officials still won’t fto him alert out. According to nan AP, nan region is experiencing harsh wintertime upwind and location are nary flights disposable for Guo to return to leave.

“It’s rather frankly insane," he told "NBC Nightly News" connected Wednesday. "They opportunity I’m free, they opportunity nan level is free, but they won’t fto maine leave. They won’t fto maine alert it out.”

Guo said his nutrient is rationed astatine nan Antarctic aerial guidelines and his connection pinch nan extracurricular world is limited.

In an Instagram story, Guo wrote that his level is “in flying condition,” but officials “won’t fto maine alert back.”

It's not clear why Chilean officials won't fto Guo leave. NBC News reached retired to his attorneys connected Thursday for comment.