An American Airlines flight attendant has gone missing during a crew layover in Colombia, prompting a swift search and leaving colleagues anxious for any update.
Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, based in Dallas-Fort Worth, arrived in Medellin on a flight from Miami late Saturday night, according to local sources.
He did not return to the airport, although the crew was scheduled to stay overnight before departing back to the U.S. early Sunday.
Authorities reported that Molina was last seen early Sunday morning in Medellin’s La America neighborhood, which is mostly residential and not a typical tourist area.
Since that time, details about his movements have become murky, and investigators are working to establish a timeline with limited leads.
The situation became more puzzling when a friend, Shalom Gil, mentioned that Molina had been invited to a party and allegedly was later found unconscious, requiring medical attention.
When this incident occurred and how he went missing afterward remains uncertain, which adds to the anxiety surrounding the case.
Molina’s last communication was a morning message sent to an Airbnb in El Poblado, around 19 miles from Medellin’s José María Córdoba International Airport, indicating his location.
In light of the growing concerns, friends and colleagues have filed missing person reports in both Dallas and Medellin.
The airline has also informed the U.S. Embassy in Colombia about the situation.
In a recent statement, American Airlines said, “We are actively cooperating with local law enforcement authorities in their investigation and are doing everything we can to support the families of our team members during this time.”
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants expressed solidarity, stating their support for the search efforts for their missing colleague in Colombia.
Experts point out that while such disappearances are not uncommon in the area, the longer someone is missing, the more alarming the situation tends to become.
Arturo Fontes, who has been involved in missing person investigations for almost 30 years, noted that while some individuals are eventually found, they may be disoriented or in a vulnerable state.
Nevertheless, the ongoing absence of Molina raises serious concerns.
“Typically, investigators will return to the last place the person was seen, be it a bar or restaurant,” Fontes explained. “They’ll likely review security footage and track down the person’s last phone location if applicable.”
