American Airlines Flight Attendant Goes Missing in Colombia

Authorities suspect Gutiérrez Molina was drugged after leaving a Medellín nightclub

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:30pm

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An American Airlines flight attendant named Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina has gone missing during a layover in Medellín, Colombia. Authorities believe Gutiérrez Molina may have been drugged after leaving a nightclub in the city's El Poblado neighborhood with a man and a woman early on Sunday morning. Local police are investigating the possible drugging as they search for the 32-year-old flight attendant.

Why it matters

This case highlights the risks and vulnerabilities that flight crews can face during layovers, especially in foreign countries. It also raises concerns about the safety of nightlife in certain areas of Medellín, which has struggled with drug-related crime and violence in the past.

The details

According to authorities, Gutiérrez Molina arrived in Medellín on March 21 on a flight from Miami. He was last seen early on Sunday morning after leaving a nightclub in the El Poblado neighborhood with a man and a woman. Gutiérrez Molina's longtime partner told CBS News that a fellow flight attendant who was with Gutiérrez Molina that night was also disoriented and could not remember parts of the evening, suggesting they may have been drugged.

  • Gutiérrez Molina arrived in Medellín on March 21 on a flight from Miami.
  • He was last seen early on Sunday morning after leaving a nightclub in the El Poblado neighborhood.

The players

Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina

A 32-year-old American Airlines flight attendant who went missing during a layover in Medellín, Colombia.

American Airlines

The airline that Gutiérrez Molina works for, which is working with law enforcement and supporting his family in the investigation.

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What they’re saying

“We don't want to disclose anything that happened to her, but she was also a victim of whatever Fernando is going through right now. She was disoriented, but she was able to make it back to the layover hotel.”

— Gutiérrez Molina's longtime partner

What’s next

Local authorities in Medellín are continuing to investigate the possible drugging and search for Gutiérrez Molina.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of flight crews being vigilant and taking precautions during layovers, especially in areas known for drug-related crime. It also underscores the need for airlines and local authorities to work together to ensure the safety of their employees when traveling abroad.