Chet Hanks with his mother Rita Wilson. [Chris Pizzello/AP]
Chet Hanks, the son of actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, remains stranded in Colombia after encountering travel complications while attempting to return to the United States on his Greek passport.
Hanks, 35, who holds Greek citizenship through his mother’s heritage, opted to travel using his Greek passport as his US passport was nearing its expiration date.
However, airline officials in Colombia reportedly informed him that he could not board a return flight to the United States without either a valid US passport or a green card to accompany his foreign passport.
The issue arose after Hanks, a model and actor, traveled from Puerto Rico, where he had attended a friend’s birthday, to the Colombian city Medellin to visit another friend. When preparing to depart Colombia, he was told he did not have the necessary documentation to enter the United States.
In a video post, Hanks said he does not possess a green card because he is an American citizen, but he did not have his US passport with him. “So, literally, I am stuck in Medellin,” he said, describing the situation.
There has been no confirmed update indicating that he has secured emergency travel documents or departed Colombia. He has since posted that he is “fine” while awaiting next steps.
Tom Hanks and his children obtained Greek citizenship approximately six years ago through Rita Wilson’s Greek heritage.