A little over two months ago, I covered how a 19-year-old (at the time) American pilot was flying a Cessna 182 around the world to raise money for cancer research. However, he hit a snag when he flew to a part of Antarctica that Chile claims as part of its Atlantic territory.
He was detained, and accused of landing there without permission. There’s now an update, as he’s finally being released, and we’re also getting a different version of events (thanks to DENDave for flagging this).
The young American was accused of landing his plane without permission, after giving officials a false flight plan. He had departed Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ), near the southernmost point of Chile, and had filed a flight plan to fly to Ushuaia (USH), even further south, in Argentina. However, according to the Chilean prosecutor, he instead conducted an unauthorized 771-mile flight to Antarctica’s Teniente R. Marsh Airport on King George Island (TNM).
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on One Mile at a Time.
