Who is Ethan Guo? Why US Influencer, Pilot Stuck in Antarctica!

Ethan Guo, a 19-year-old pilot and Instagram influencer with over 1.4 million followers, has seen his record-breaking mission abruptly halted after an unapproved landing in Antarctica landed him in legal trouble with Chilean authorities.

Guo’s ambitious goal was to become the first person to fly solo to all seven continents while raising funds for childhood cancer research. However, Chilean officials accuse him of straying from his approved flight route and landing in a Chile-claimed Antarctic zone without clearance. Prosecutors allege he filed a false flight plan to conceal the detour.

Stranded for weeks at a remote Antarctic outpost, Guo has been covering living costs of about $600 per day while his small aircraft remains grounded. A Chilean judge has offered a resolution: donate $30,000 to a children’s cancer charity within 30 days, leave the country immediately, and avoid Chile for three years to prevent further legal action. Failure to comply would result in the case moving forward.

Guo’s lawyer maintains he was on an “exploratory flight” and landed due to mechanical issues — a claim prosecutors dispute. If he meets the terms, Guo could leave by early October via military vessel or commercial flight from Punta Arenas.

The young pilot’s passion for aviation began at 13, earning him a private pilot’s license at 17 and an IFR rating. Inspired by his cousin’s cancer diagnosis in 2021, Guo dedicated his journey — which began in Memphis and has so far covered six continents — to raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer. Now, the Antarctic leg has become his toughest challenge yet, putting both his mission and resilience to the test.