A new theory has emerged in the disappearance of American Airlines flight attendant Eric Fernando Gutiérrez Molina, who went missing during a layover in Medellín, Colombia. Authorities and his family now believe he may have been drugged with scopolamine, commonly known as “devil’s breath.” This drug is known for causing confusion, memory loss, poor judgment, and loss of consciousness.
Gutiérrez Molina, a 32-year-old crew member based at Dallas–Fort Worth, was last seen on Sunday after a night out with coworkers in Medellín. He and his colleagues had spent Saturday evening in the El Poblado nightlife district, a popular area among international tourists. He and his coworkers reportedly left a club with two men that night.
According to The Sun U.S., the next morning, he failed to show up at the airport for his scheduled return flight to Miami, which immediately raised concerns among his colleagues and family.
A female coworker’s condition points to possible drugging that night
A female coworker who was out with him that same night was later found disoriented and needing medical attention, saying she could not remember parts of the evening. His best friend, Sharom Gil, told reporters, “It was his female coworker, they both went out.”
She added, “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, Ernesto Carranza, said he last spoke with him on Saturday evening before he went out. The following morning, when Carranza tried to reach him and received no response, concern quickly set in.
As she investigated further, Carranza found out that Gutiérrez Molina’s phone was sending location pings from two separate spots in Medellín, neither of which was close to the hotel where he was staying. This made her even more worried.
CBS News reports, Carranza shared his pain, saying, “I want to believe that he’s alive, and I want to continue believing that he’s alive, but throughout each day you wake up not knowing anything, and it makes the days go by longer and slower.” Gil described Gutiérrez Molina as “the most joyful person to ever be around,” and added, “We’re so lost right now.”
His father, who also lives in Texas, has since traveled to Colombia to help with the search. Flight attendants regularly face risks during layovers, and some have even survived extraordinary mid-flight accidents that most would never expect.
Manuel Villa Mejía, Medellín’s security secretary, confirmed that finding Gutiérrez Molina “safe and sound” is his “top priority.” He stated that after going out to an establishment in El Poblado, the group moved to a different location, and “since that time, his whereabouts remain unknown.”
Mejía confirmed that Colombian officials are working closely with the U.S. Embassy and the family, and that they “will remain on the ground, working tirelessly and without pause, until we find him.” Officials have said they have identified potential suspects but have not released any names or further details. American Airlines confirmed it is actively working with local law enforcement and is “doing all we can to support our team member’s family during this time.”
While the airline works to support his family, frequent flyers may also want to know what flight attendants secretly know about airplane hygiene. The State Department said it was “aware” of reports about his disappearance and was “closely tracking the situation,” adding that “the Trump Administration has no greater priority than the safety and security of Americans.” The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also stated it is “supporting all efforts to locate the missing crew member.”
Published: Mar 31, 2026 02:25 pm