Family Searches for Hannah Kobayashi After She Disappears Following Missed Connecting Flight at LAX

Family Searches for Hannah Kobayashi After She Disappears Following Missed Connecting Flight at LAX

Hannah Kobayashi, 31, was last heard from on November 11, after missing a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at LAX on November 8.

Kobayashi is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, and freckles. Her family filed a missing person’s report with the Los Angeles Police Department on November 12, as concerns grow for her safety.

Larie Pidgeon, Kobayashi’s aunt, told *USA TODAY* on Sunday that the family received unusual text messages from Kobayashi shortly before her disappearance, which raised concerns.

"On November 11, we started getting texts saying she didn’t feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her money or her identity," Pidgeon explained. "The messages were strange—she was calling us 'babe' and saying things that didn’t sound like her usual way of speaking."

*Timeline of Hannah Kobayashi's Disappearance*

The family has obtained security footage showing Hannah Kobayashi leaving LAX on November 8, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, tie-dye leggings, and a dark green backpack.

According to Pidgeon, Kobayashi was spotted twice at The Grove shopping center, located about 10 miles northeast of the airport. She was seen by employees at the Taschen bookstore around noon on November 9 and was later captured on video attending a Nike event at 3:40 p.m. on November 10. A photo from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event was also posted to her Instagram that same day.

According to the family, Kobayashi returned to LAX on November 11 but did not board a flight, based on information from airport staff. Her phone, which is housed in an Audrey Hepburn case, last pinged at LAX on the same day, but the device has not been located.

On Sunday night, the family released a statement revealing that they had obtained surveillance footage showing Kobayashi near the Pico Metro station, close to Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

"In the footage, it is clear that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and is not alone," the statement said.

While the family did not disclose when the footage was captured, citing the ongoing investigation, they urged those helping in the search to focus on the area near the arena. The statement also called for increased vigilance when using the metro throughout the city.

*Search Focuses on Train Routes Near Airport*

Hannah Kobayashi’s family has arrived in Los Angeles to continue the search for her. According to her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, the search has concentrated on the area near LAX, including nearby bus routes and the C and K-Line trains of the Los Angeles Metro.

In an effort to cover the costs of the search, the family has launched a GoFundMe page. Pidgeon expressed both hope and urgency in their efforts to locate Kobayashi, acknowledging the critical nature of time.

"It’s been seven days, but it feels like it’s been seven weeks," Pidgeon said. "With trafficking and kidnapping, that could be like three months."

Anyone with information about Kobayashi’s whereabouts is urged to contact the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247 or The Rad Movement at 619-904-0840.

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