(CNN) Chilean officials arrested a teenage pilot this weekend for altering his flight route without their consent and landing in Antarctica, putting him in trouble on his effort to fly all seven continents alone.
Prosecutors in Chile believe that 19-year-old American influencer Ethan Guo violated numerous national and international laws by abruptly altering his flight itinerary and landing on a portion of Antarctica where the South American nation has a territorial claim.
In response to CNN’s request for comment, Guo’s attorney stated on Sunday that the young pilot had encountered difficulties during flight.
Since last September, Guo has shared his journey around the continents with over a million Instagram followers. According to his website, he is attempting to earn $1 million for cancer research by becoming the first person to fly to all seven continents alone.
A fly across the Philippines is documented in his most recent post, which was made on June 23.
According to Chilean authorities, Guo was the only passenger and crew member on a Cessna 182Q aircraft, registered as N182WT, when he submitted a fictitious flight plan and took off from Carlos Ib ez del Campo Airport in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas on Saturday. Authorities claim that at one point during that trip, he veered off course in the direction of Antarctica.
The accused gave the aviation authority misleading information. According to Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, he submitted a flight plan stating that he intended to fly above the city of Punta Arenas.
But without telling anyone or getting permission, he proceeded toward Antarctica and landed at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base’s runway in Chilean Antarctic territory. The prosecutor further stated that the accused’s actions posed a major risk to the security of air travel to Antarctica and the Magallanes region.
According to Cristoso, Guo was arrested and charged as soon as he arrived in Antarctica. Crisosto stressed that in addition to breaking the Aeronautical Code, the accused allegedly broke other national and international laws pertaining to access to the white continent and routes to Antarctica.
Following Guo’s indictment, his attorney informed reporters during a news conference on Sunday that the young pilot encountered difficulties during flight. Karina Ulloa stated that Guo claimed to be performing an exploratory flight to determine whether or not he could follow this route when he started to encounter a number of issues while in the air.
Ulloa was asked to comment by CNN on Tuesday.
The teenager must stay on the Chilean portion of the icy continent until authorities allow him to return to Punta Arenas, according to a ruling made on Sunday by the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Prosecutor’s Office.
Guo must stay in Chile for the duration of the 90-day investigative term that the Chilean court ordered for this case.
