MEDELLIN COLOMBIA, An American Airlines flight attendant has been reported missing after disappearing during a layover in Colombia, raising concerns among authorities and colleagues.
Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, who was based in Dallas-Fort Worth, arrived in Medellín late Saturday night on a flight from Miami. The crew was scheduled for a short overnight stay before returning to the United States early Sunday. However, Molina did not return to the airport with the rest of the crew and has not been heard from since.
According to investigators, Molina went out with two coworkers before later leaving with one of them and additional individuals to continue socializing at another location. He did not return to the hotel afterward.
Authorities reported that he was last seen in Medellín’s La América area before reportedly heading to another location.
A friend stated that Molina had been invited out and was later found disoriented and taken to a medical facility. Details about what happened after that point remain unclear.
Investigators have expressed concern that he may have been a victim of a drugging incident, including substances such as scopolamine, which has been linked in some cases to crimes targeting visitors. However, this has not been confirmed.
The last known communication from Molina was a message sent early in the morning that included his location at an Airbnb in the El Poblado neighborhood, located several miles from the city’s main airport.
Family members, friends, and coworkers have filed missing person reports in both Dallas and Medellín as efforts continue to locate him.
American Airlines stated that it is working with local authorities and supporting the family during the investigation. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also confirmed that it is assisting in efforts to find their colleague.
Experts familiar with missing persons investigations noted that authorities typically review surveillance footage and phone data to trace an individual’s last known movements.
The case remains under investigation as officials continue to search for answers regarding Molina’s disappearance.
