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American teen influencer Ethan Guo's ambitious cancer research fundraising flight has taken a disastrous turn, leaving him stranded in a remote location in Antarctica since June.
Authorities say Guo landed his small plane illegally in Chilean territory after providing false flight plan information, prompting an official investigation.
Last year, the then-19-year-old made headlines attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents, while collecting donations for childhood cancer research.
As part of his trip, he planned to go to the Antarctic, but according to the authorities, he lied to officials by providing authorities with “false flight plan data.”
Prosecutors said he had been authorized to only fly over Punta Arenas, but that he kept going south, heading for Antarctica in his Cessna 182Q — a single-engine light aircraft known for its versatility.
open image in gallery American pilot Ethan Guo, before his takeoff from Geneva Airport ( AP/KEYSTONE / SALVATORE DI NOLFI )
Guo was charged on June 29 with handing false information to ground control and landing without authorization, but on Monday, a judge dropped the charges as part of an agreement with his lawyers and Chile’s prosecutors. It requires the teen to give a $30,000 donation to a children’s cancer foundation within 30 days to avoid a trial.
He must also leave the country as soon as conditions allow and is prohibited from reentering Chilean territory for three years.
On Monday, after the judge’s ruling, Guo said in a text message that he was “relieved by the outcome.”
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