American Airlines Flight Attendant Disappears During Colombian Layover
An American Airlines flight attendant has vanished during a layover in Colombia, sparking an urgent search and leaving his family in desperate need of answers. Fernando Gutiérrez, aged 32, landed in Medellín from Miami on Saturday and was scheduled to spend the night before returning to the United States.
Night Out in Medellín Turns Mysterious
According to reports from Colombian outlet Telemedellín, Gutiérrez was staying in Rionegro, home to Medellín's international airport, and ventured to the El Poblado neighborhood with a female colleague identified only as Andrea for an evening out. The pair visited a nightclub where they met two men who suggested continuing the party elsewhere. Hours later, Andrea was discovered disoriented by authorities in El Poblado and rushed to a medical centre, but Gutiérrez has not been seen since.
Sharom Gil, a friend of Gutiérrez, told Telemedellín, 'We tracked the phone to a residential area in Medellín, but we haven't been able to talk to him. Our messages don't reach him anymore.' The last known trace was a message sent in the early morning hours sharing his location at an Airbnb in El Poblado, with Gil adding, 'We don't have anything else.'
Desperate Search and Official Responses
Gutiérrez, based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, has been reported missing in both the US and Colombia. Alejandro Murcia, a US-based elected official representing Colombians abroad, stated on X, 'Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina, an American citizen and flight attendant for American Airlines is missing in Medellín. His family is desperate.' Another friend, Karla Amaya–Lovo, described the disappearance as 'terrifying and urgent,' raising concerns that Gutiérrez may have been drugged, noting Andrea's disoriented state.
Colombian authorities have launched an emergency search, with investigators reviewing camera footage to reconstruct his movements. One unconfirmed theory suggests a man approached Gutiérrez claiming to know Medellín well and offered to show him around. So far this year, 124 people have been reported missing in Medellín, with 104 found alive, 18 still missing, and two found dead.
Conflicting Reports and Ongoing Efforts
Gil contacted Dallas police to report him missing, and American Airlines notified the US Embassy in Colombia. However, the Dallas Police Department told the Daily Mail on Thursday morning, 'We were not able to locate any information on this alleged missing person case.' Amaya–Lovo confirmed on Thursday that there was 'no new information' and the search in Colombia continues.
American Airlines acknowledged the situation, stating, 'We are actively engaged with local law enforcement officials in their investigation and doing all we can to support our team member's family during this time.' The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, representing American Airlines flight attendants, told NBC 5 it is 'actively supporting all efforts to help locate our missing colleague in Colombia.'
Travel Warnings and Background
The US Department of State currently urges Americans to 'reconsider travel' to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping, warning that murder, assault, and theft are common in many areas. A public social media profile indicates Gutiérrez has been a flight attendant since December 2017. The Daily Mail has reached out to the US Embassy in Colombia, the US Department of State, and Sharom Gil for further comment, but no new information has been released by authorities regarding his disappearance or possible whereabouts.
