"PUNTA ARENAS, Chile (AP) An American social media influencer who has been stuck in a Chilean airbase in Antarctica for two months after landing a plane there without permission was released on Saturday back to the mainland, where he was to pay $30,000 in penalties. Ethan Guo, who was 19 when he began his fundraising mission for cancer research, was attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents."
"The influencer's lawyer Jaime Barrientos told The Associated Press that Guo landed because he had to divert his aircraft due to poor weather conditions, and that he did receive authorization from Chilean authorities. To his surprise, when he was about to take off back to Punta Arenas he was arrested, in a process that from my perspective was a total exaggeration, Barrientos said. Barrientos said he was happy with the agreement struck with authorities."
Ethan Guo, who began a fundraising mission for cancer research at age 19, sought to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents. Prosecutors said he lied to officials by providing false flight plan data and exceeded authorization to only fly over Punta Arenas, instead landing in Chile's Antarctic territory on June 28 in a Cessna 182Q. He was detained at a military base for two months, enduring limited communications and freezing winter temperatures. A judge released him on condition he donate tens of thousands raised to a childhood cancer foundation within 30 days, pay $30,000 in penalties, leave Chile promptly and remain banned from Chilean territory for three years. His lawyer said he diverted due to poor weather and expected authorization.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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