Missing Hawaii Woman Hannah Kobayashi Intentionally Missed Her Connecting Flight, Police Say, Though Her Family Disagrees

Mar. 15, 2025

Hannah Kobayashi.Photo:Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon

Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon

Hannah Kobayashiintentionally missed her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York City, police say, though her family disagrees.

The missing Hawaii woman, 30, landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Nov. 8, when she was due to take a connecting flight to Manhattan. However, Hannah never made it onto the plane, her family told Fox affiliateKHON.

Hannah’s phone last pinned her location at LAX three days later on Nov. 11, which was also the final time anyone from her family heard from her. Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, later wrote on Facebook on Nov. 14 that thelast text messages her family received from her were “alarming."

Speaking at aLos Angeles Board of Police Commissioners meetingon Nov. 26, LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said police determined Hannah had intentionally missed her flight that day.

“On Friday November 8th, 23-year-old Hannah Kobayashi missed her connecting flight from LAX to New York, which the investigation determined was intentional,” McDonnell said.

“On November 15th our missing persons unit assumed investigative responsibility. Detectives have been diligently reviewing video surveillance and employing various investigative techniques to locate Hannah, while her family has continued their personal search efforts,” he continued, adding that authorities “remain fully committed to locating Hannah.”

Hannah Kobayashi.Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon

“These alleged findings have yet to be relayed to my mother and I directly from the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department or any detective involved in Hannah’s case,” Hannah’s sister further explained.

“The lack of communication surrounding some important details has left us feeling excluded from potentially crucial developments. However, we do remain hopeful and optimistic that the Los Angeles Police Department is doing everything in their power to assist us in locating Hannah,” the statement added.

An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment on the family’s criticism, telling PEOPLE that “the investigation is ongoing and there are no updates.”

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Concluding their social media statement, Hannah’s mother and sister said it “is completely out of character” for her to “simply disappear without a trace.”

“We remain deeply concerned about Hannah’s safety, her well being [sic] and her current state of mind,” they wrote. “Hannah if you happen to see this, know that we are not going to give up or stop searching until we find you. We know that this is something that you would never do on your own accord, unless you felt some type of threat or you were unwell. We know how much you love all of us, and we love you deeply.”

Pidgeon, Hannah’s aunt, previously told PEOPLE “We are terrified. We’re really afraid.”

“We have to get her face into as many people’s hands as we can,” added Pidgeon, a travel photographer who is acting as family spokesperson. “We’re fighting desperately, and that’s why we’re talking to as many people as we can. We’re trying to remain hopeful.”

source: people.com