Woman Missing After Not Getting on Connecting Flight Sent 'Alarming' Text Messages, Says Family

Mar. 15, 2025

A Hawaii woman who has been missing since she failed to board a connecting flight in Los Angeles sent “alarming” text messages before she vanished, her family has said.

The family of Hannah Kobayashi, 31, who has been missing since Friday, Nov. 8, said she felt “scared” in the text messages while staying in L.A. ahead of her scheduled connecting flight to New York City.

“Hannah’s last message to us was alarming — she mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” family member Larie Pidgeon wrote onFacebookon Nov. 14. “She hasn’t been heard from since, and we are gravely concerned for her safety.”

Pidgeon added that Hannah left Honolulu on Nov. 8 to embark on her journey to N.Y.C., which she had saved money for. As an aspiring photographer, she had planned to explore the art scene in the city,NBC Newsreported.

Fox affiliateKHONpreviously reported that Hannah left her home of Maui for L.A. on Nov. 8 where she was supposed to board a connecting flight to N.Y.C, which was scheduled to land on Nov. 9.

Hannah Kobayashi.Emi Ko/GoFundMe

Emi Ko/GoFundMe

Pidgeon told NBC News that Hannah’s last texts to her family were sent on Monday, Nov. 11. She added that some of the messages didn’t sound like they were written in her voice.

“She said that someone was stealing her identity, that she felt scared,” Pidgeon told NBC affiliateKHNL of Honolulubefore adding that Hannah’s aunt Geordan Montalvo had also tried to reach her.

“Her phone pinged at LAX at 4 p.m. and then after that, Geordan kept trying to talk to her, and then it went dark. Her phone went dead, and her communication cut off completely,” she said.

Missing person Hannah Kobayashi.LAPD

LAPD

“She texted her that she was scared and that she couldn’t come back home or something,” Hannah’s sister, Sydni Kobayashi, toldHawaiiNewsNow. “It was just really weird texts … it doesn’t sound like her, like there’s just something off about it. So I wasn’t too sure. I don’t know if it’s her or if someone else was texting.”

Concern for Hannah’s whereabouts has increased after a Facebook group called Help Us Find Hanna, which includes some family members, stated that she was seen with someone in security footage in the area of Pico Boulevard and Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles, per NBC News.

According to the family, Kobayashi’s last pinned location was at LAX on Nov. 11,KGMB/KHNLand KHON reported.

In an email to PEOPLE on Nov. 15, the Los Angeles Police Department said that a missing persons report was filed.

Hannah’s cousin Emi Ko wrote on aGoFundMeset up for her, “Her movements have been unclear, her phone has been shut off and her family and friends have been working tirelessly to retrace her steps.”

As of Tuesday, Nov. 19, police tell PEOPLE there are no updates to share on the case.

source: people.com