Meet the Teen Who Undertook a 7-Continent Solo Flight Against Cancer
By Kelli Luu | 27 Jun, 2026

Ethan Guo flew across six continents and gained nearly 2 million followers while raising awareness for childhood cancer research—all before turning 20.

While most 19 year olds are just starting college or entering the workforce, Ethan Guo had already logged over 700 flight hours, building a strong reputation as one of the world’s youngest pilots. 

Guo was born in Tianjin, China in 2005. He moved to the United States and developed a fascination for aviation at the young age of 13. He graduated high school early in order to dedicate more time to flight training and by the time he was 17, he earned his private pilot license. 

When he was 19 Guo had completed over 700 hours of flight time after flying to 48 states and crossing the Atlantic Ocean three times. Guo also became Instrument Flight Rules-rated, meaning he is able to navigate and fly using cockpit instruments without visual ground references, which is an impressive accomplishment for any pilot. 

In 2024, Guo launched a campaign called “Flight Against Cancer”, inspired by his cousin's battle with Stage 4 cancer. He set his sights on becoming the very first person to fly solo to all seven continents in a small aircraft. The mission began in May 2024. Guo flew tens of thousands of miles across more than 60 countries and raised $1 million for childhood cancer research. His journey caught international attention quickly as Guo was documenting his travels and sharing updates online. 

By 2025, Guo was nearing Antarctica, the final stage of his record-setting campaign. What was supposed to be the happy ending to his mission became a global controversy when Guo was detained by Chilean authorities after landing in Antarctica in June 2025. They were charging him for filing an inaccurate flight plan and Guo was stuck in Chilean Antarctic territory for over two months while the case was being investigated. Upon an approved agreement, the criminal charges were dismissed and Guo donated $30,000 to a Chilean children’s cancer foundation and agreed to leave Chile with a three-year ban from reentering the territory. 

Guo’s aviation journey allowed him to build a significant following of nearly 2 million followers across social media platforms, giving viewers an inside look on his life as a young pilot. He has yet to confirm if the 7-continent mission was ever complete, but his accomplishments have already cemented his place as one of the most ambitious pilots in the world, inspiring other  young pilots and bringing attention to childhood cancer research.