FORT WORTH, TEXAS— A body was found during the search for an American Airlines (AA) flight attendant who vanished during a layover in Medellín (MDE), Colombia.
Eric Fernando Gutierrez Molina, 32, a U.S. citizen and North Texas resident, went missing Saturday evening (March 21, 2026) after a night out with a fellow flight attendant.
The two flight attendants visited a bar in Medellín’s El Poblado neighborhood, popular with international tourists.
Molina had arrived in Medellín (MDE) on Saturday night on a flight from Miami (MIA) and was scheduled to return to the United States the following morning.
Body Found During Search for Missing AA Attendant
Medellín Mayor Fico Gutierrez confirmed on Friday (March 27, 2026) that a lifeless body was discovered between the municipalities of Jerico and Puente Iglesias during the active search for Molina.
He stated there is “a very high probability” the body belongs to the missing flight attendant, and it has been transported to the coroner’s office in Medellín for formal identification.
The mayor personally delivered the news to Molina’s father, who had traveled from Texas to Colombia to assist in the search efforts.
Molina was set to work on a return flight from Medellín (MDE) to Miami (MIA) on Sunday. His longtime partner, Ernesto Carranza, became alarmed Sunday morning when he was unable to reach him.
Carranza then discovered that Molina’s phone appeared to be pinging to two locations in Medellín that were not near his hotel. “Both locations were nowhere near where he was supposed to sleep for the night,” Carranza said.
The Night He Disappeared: What Is Known
Officials said Gutierrez Molina went out with two coworkers, a man and a woman, and later left with the woman and other unknown people for another establishment. Local authorities in Medellín revealed that Molina was last seen early Sunday morning, March 22, in the mostly residential neighborhood of La America.
The last trace of the flight attendant was a message he sent in the early hours of the morning, sharing his location at an Airbnb in the El Poblado neighborhood, about 12 miles from Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport (MDE).
Adding to the mystery, as reported by CBS News, Molina’s female coworker, who had accompanied him that night, could not recall parts of the evening. According to his friend Sharom Gil, she was disoriented but was able to make it back to the layover hotel.
Scopolamine Suspected: A Known Threat to Tourists in Colombia
Officials said on Thursday they identified individuals who were last seen with Molina, and that those individuals have a history of committing theft using scopolamine, an incapacitating drug known as “devil’s breath.”
According to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, scopolamine has been used for years to carry out robberies targeting people in bars and nightclubs in Medellín, Cartagena, and Bogotá.
The drug is a sedative that often leaves the victim disoriented with no memory, making them easily robbed. Overdoses can cause respiratory failure and death.
Dr. Jairo Noreña noted that scopolamine comes from a plant found in Colombia, and the seeds can be crushed into an odorless, tasteless powder that can be mixed into drinks.
Authorities said the drug is common enough that some bars and clubs warn customers with signs urging them to stay alert and report suspicious activity.
American Airlines, U.S. Embassy, and State Department Respond
American Airlines stated it was actively engaged with local law enforcement and doing all it could to support the team member’s family during this time. The airline also notified the U.S. Embassy in Colombia following Molina’s disappearance.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombia said it was restricted from speaking about individual cases due to federal privacy laws.
The State Department confirmed it was aware of the disappearance and was closely tracking the situation, adding that “the Trump Administration has no greater priority than the safety and security of Americans abroad.”
The U.S. State Department currently maintains a Level 3 travel warning for Colombia, advising Americans to reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
Family’s Grief and Community Support
Molina’s father, who also resides in Texas, traveled to Colombia to assist local authorities in the search for his son. His partner, Carranza, had described being “shattered” by the disappearance. Friends and coworkers filed missing persons reports in both Dallas and Medellín as concern grew for Molina’s well-being.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also publicly committed to supporting all efforts to locate their missing crew member.
An investigation remains underway. The coroner’s office in Medellín is working to formally identify the body recovered during the search.
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