Chet Hanks Colombia drama: latest update as officials respond to travel nightmare
3 min readChet Hanks, the 35-year-old son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has found himself in a decidedly un-Hollywood predicament, as he revealed he is stranded in Medellín, Colombia, after an impromptu trip went sideways, and an airline politely but firmly told him he could not board his flight back to the United States.
Hanks was in Puerto Rico celebrating a friend’s birthday. “I went to Puerto Rico last week for my ‘homie Max’s birthday,’” he recounted on Instagram. “I realized I’m only a few hours away from Medellín,” he explained. “Why don’t I go pull up on my homie Taylor who lives in Medellín? F— it, yeah, sounds good.”
© Robin L MarshallPassport drama:
Hanks is a dual citizen of Greece and the United States. For his latest trip, he chose to travel on his Greek passport because, in his words, his U.S. passport “is about to expire.” However, U.S. nationals must use a U.S. passport to re-enter the country.
© Bruce Glikas“They tell me that if I’m using a foreign passport, I need a green card to get back into America,” Hanks said. “I don’t have a green card because I’m an American citizen. I don’t have my American passport with me. So I’m literally stuck in Colombia. I’m stuck in Medellín.” And with a touch of drama, he added, “So, yeah, free me. Free me.”
Colombian authorities weigh in:
But while the social media narrative was one, Colombian officials offered a more measured take. Sources from Migración Colombia confirmed that the airline acted strictly according to standard international travel procedures.
© PABLO VERAThere was no irregularity, no special “ban,” just the rules of global bureaucracy at work. Hanks, officials noted, now must handle the matter through the proper diplomatic channels, namely the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, to obtain emergency travel documentation. In other words, this is not the Colombian version of ‘Cast Away,’ just paperwork.
What happens next?
Chet’s next step is clear. He should travel to Bogotá, visit the U.S. Embassy, and request emergency travel documents to allow him to return stateside.
© Patrick van KatwijkIt’s a procedural journey. In short, Colombian authorities have drawn a firm line, and there is no special treatment, no scandal, just consular procedure.
On March 1, he shared an update. He posted an Instagram Story from a gym, captioned in Spanish, “Estamos bien, no te preocupes,” “We’re fine, don’t worry.” Hanks shared photos and videos from his time in Medellín, while online users continue to share their reactions following the dramatic situation.
