Guadalajara: Flights Rerouted and Airports Maintain Operations as Violence Erupts After Abatimiento of “El Mencho”
A Delta Air Lines flight bound for guadalajara was diverted to Austin amid disturbances linked to the abatimiento of "El Mencho, " while the Miguel Hidalgo airport in Guadalajara continued operating despite reports of panic and widespread disruptions across Jalisco.
Delta flight 1992 timeline and reroute
Delta Air Lines flight 1992 departed the morning of 22 February at 9: 43 a. m. with destination Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla airport in Guadalajara. Midflight, the aircraft landed at Austin-Bergstrom airport at 12: 20 p. m. following reports of disturbances in the state of Jalisco tied to the abatimiento of "El Mencho, " identified as Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes.
The flight subsequently departed Austin-Bergstrom at 1: 18 p. m. and was scheduled to land in Atlanta at 4: 26 p. m. Flight records show the aircraft will return to Atlanta. Delta also posted a notice that civil disturbances in Jalisco may affect travel to, from or through Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
Guadalajara airport status: operations continue
The Miguel Hidalgo international airport in Guadalajara was reported to be operating without cancellations or internal operational affectations. The airport authority stated that installations remained under the protection of the Guardia Nacional and the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, with permanent coordination in place, and that no incidents had been registered that posed risk to passengers, collaborators or visitors. The Gabinete de Seguridad confirmed that airports in Jalisco were operating normally and that passengers were taking flights as scheduled.
Other airlines adjust Puerto Vallarta service
Air Canada and United Airlines suspended operations to and from Puerto Vallarta temporarily, citing the ongoing security situation. United Airlines canceled flights destined for Puerto Vallarta as part of those adjustments. Forecasts indicated other carriers might modify flights to Jalisco on a temporary basis.
Wider disruption on the ground across Jalisco
Chaos in Jalisco escalated through the day with road closures and blocked highways that left the Guadalajara metropolitan area largely isolated by land. The central bus station in Guadalajara instituted a partial stoppage of runs after road closures and several shootouts occurred near the terminal in Tlaquepaque, preventing arrival of passengers.
In Puerto Vallarta there were reports of vehicle and business burnings that hampered southern access federal highway 200. Preliminary accounts circulating in the media indicated that armed individuals entered the penal facility in Ixtapa, engaged custodial staff and freed several inmates; those reports had not been confirmed by authorities. Some videos circulating on social platforms showed bodies outside the prison, a detail labeled in the public record as extraofficial and not confirmed.
Panic inside the terminal and the role of social media
Shortly after 11: 00 a. m., videos circulated showing people running inside the Guadalajara airport, hiding and being directed into waiting areas amid claims of an incursion by armed men. The airport authority characterized those scenes as a psychosis that did not reflect the real situation inside the terminal. At the same time, social networks saw a surge of false or unverified publications, including a supposed threat attributed to the cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, which amplified fear among citizens.
What travelers should do
Given the mix of airline adjustments and ground disruptions, travelers with plans to fly to or from Jalisco—especially to Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta—are advised to contact their airline to anticipate changes or cancellations. Details remain fluid and it is expected that flight schedules may be modified temporarily as carriers respond to the security situation.
