Family searches for Hannah Kobayashi, who disappeared after missing connecting flight at LAX

Los Angeles According to her family and authorities, a Hawaiian woman who missed a connecting flight in Los Angeles is missing after being spotted on camera at the airport and a large shopping mall.

Days earlier on November 8, Hannah Kobayashi, 31, missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at Los Angeles International Airport. According to her family, she was last heard from on November 11.

According to the description, Kobayashi is 5′ 10″, weighs around 140 pounds, has pale skin with freckles, and brown eyes and hair. On November 12, the family reported the missing person to the Los Angeles Police Department.

 

Kobayashi’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told USA TODAY on Sunday that shortly before she vanished, Kobayashi sent the family uncharacteristic text messages.

“On (Nov. 11), we started getting texts saying that she didn’t feel safe, that someone was trying to steal her funds, that someone was trying to take her identity,” said Pidgeon. “Weird things, calling us babe, things that weren’t quite the normal way that she speaks.”

LAPD has been contacted by USA TODAY for additional details.

Timeline of Kobayashi’s disappearance
Security footage that the family has received shows Kobayashi leaving the airport on November 8th while sporting a dark green bag, tie-dye leggings, and a black hooded hoodie.

Kobayashi was spotted twice at The Grove retail center, which is about ten miles northeast of LAX, according to Pidgeon. She was spotted on camera at a Nike event at approximately 3:40 p.m. on November 10 and once around noon on November 9 by staff at the mall’s Taschen book store. The same day, she shared a picture from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event on Instagram.

The family claims that Kobayashi returned to LAX on November 11 but did not catch an aircraft, citing airport employees. When it was last pinged at LAX on November 11, Kobayashi’s phone—which had an Audrey Hepburn case—was nowhere to be seen.

After obtaining surveillance footage showing Kobayashi near the Pico Metro station near Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, the family issued a statement on Sunday night.

“In the footage it is evident that Hannah does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone,” the statement continued.

Citing the current investigation, the statement did not specify when the video was recorded, but it did advise anyone looking for Kobayashi to concentrate on the region close to the arena and to “remain vigilant when using the metro anywhere in the city.”

Train-focused search near the airport
To find her, Kobayashi’s family has traveled to Los Angeles. According to Pidgeon, the search has concentrated on the vicinity of the Los Angeles Metro’s C and K-Line trains, a bus line, and LAX.

To help cover the expenses of the search, the family created a GoFundMe page. According to Pidgeon, the family is aware that time is of the importance but still wants to locate Kobayashi.

Pidgeon remarked, “It’s been seven days, but in dog years,” “With trafficking, with kidnapping, that could be like three months.”

Begin your day with knowledge: Subscribe to the Daily Briefing newsletter from USA TODAY.

New information has been added to this story.