By Zesha Saleem
A pilot has been detained in Antarctica while attempting a viral charity flying challenge to solo-visit all seven continents. For the past six months or so, Ethan Guo has attempted to fly across the world in a Cesena C182 to visit each continent. The 19-year-old has been sharing his journey on social media while attempting to raise $1 million for different cancer charities. He was posting consistently until the end of June, with his last video around the time he landed in the Philippines. However, since, then, the teen has been arrested by Chilean officials for an unauthorised landing in Chilean Antarctic territory. According to local media, he was detained on June 28, he reported that he would take off from Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas for a flight over the city. Instead, he disregarded the flight plan and headed for Antarctica, landing at Teniente Marsh Airfield in Chilean Antarctic territory. Prosecutor Cristián Crisosto said: “With this conduct, the defendant seriously endangered the safety of air traffic to Antarctica and the Magallanes Region, which is why he was charged.” Guo is subject to monthly check-ins with officials, but is authorised to leave Antarica for Punta Arenas if weather permits. However, he is ordered to remain in the Magallanes Region, with a hearing pencilled in for July 11 to determine the full outcome of his case, Dextero reported. There is no word on what consequences Guo could face. In the United States, the FAA has the authority to fine pilots up to $100,000 for violations against the Aeronautical Code, as well as removing any permits. In other aviation news, Ryanair has been forced to cancel 170 flights disrupting the travel plans of over 30,000 passengers. It comes as nationwide air traffic controller strike cause travel chaos in France. The airline stated: “In addition to flights to/from France being canceled, this strike will also affect all French overflights.” The French air traffic control union announced its workers would go on strike on July 3 and 4 due to worker battling issues such as understaffing, burnout, and overwork. The country’s civil aviation authority – DGAC –requested the airlines cut flights to Paris airports by 40% during the strike and cancel up to half of flights to Nice Airport, along with Bastia and Calvi airports in Corsica. Paris airports, including Charles de Gaulle, Paris Beauvais, and Orly, were ordered to cancel a quarter of flights, reports the Mirror . Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, has called on the European Commission president to reform the EU’s air traffic controller services, stating: “Once again European families are held to ransom by French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike.” France’s air traffic control union initiated the strike due to deepening concerns about understaffing, burnout, and employees being overworked. “It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike. It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays,” O’Leary added.