Airports Disrupted After El Mencho’s Death, Flights to Puerto Vallarta Diverted and Manzanillo Operations Suspended
The morning after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, airports across Jalisco were shaken by passenger panic, road blockages and operational disruptions; flights to puerto vallarta were among those affected. The developments prompted official communications from federal aviation authorities, airport operators and an international warning from Canada, underscoring immediate travel and safety concerns.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación reactions
The abatimiento of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes triggered violent reactions by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Those street-level disturbances included confrontations, blockades and vehicles set on fire in Jalisco, actions that state and federal authorities linked directly to the post-operation unrest.
Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara: panic, videos and official calm
The Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara experienced chaos among passengers when initial reports asserted that sicarios had entered airport facilities. Multiple travelers captured footage of people running and taking cover; airport authorities later characterized the episode as a collective psychosis, prompted when some passengers fled and others perceived threats because of the broader violence in the streets of Jalisco and other states.
The Gabinete de Seguridad affirmed that airports in Jalisco continue to operate normally and that passengers are boarding flights as scheduled, noting no relevant incidents inside terminal facilities. Airport leadership reiterated that the Guadalajara terminal maintains its usual operations and remains in coordination with federal security instances to protect travelers.
Manzanillo and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico operational decisions
Operations at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Manzanillo were directly impacted by conditions on the road to the airport: cancellations of flights scheduled for today and other affectations in air operations were registered after authorities reported access problems. The Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) confirmed these operational disruptions, and airport communications advised passengers to remain in close contact with their airlines for updated itineraries.
In addition to the cancellations, Manzanillo suspended activities at the facility as a result of the access and safety issues. Officials urged travelers to stay attentive to new updates while emergency teams worked to restore normal conditions.
Puerto Vallarta diversions and AFAC coordination
The Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) disclosed that events this morning in the surroundings of the airports of Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic led some international airlines bound for Puerto Vallarta to divert their flights under those carriers' internal protocols. AFAC also stated that, despite those diversions, the airports continue operating normally, Emergency Operations Centers (Centros de Operaciones en Emergencias, COE) at each airport are working under established protocols, and interinstitutional coordination is in place to guarantee the safety of operations and users.
AFAC emphasized it remains in constant communication with all authorities to update the status of airport operations and recommended passengers maintain direct contact with their airlines for possible itinerary adjustments, while noting that up to the moment no widespread cancellations or persistent interruptions of scheduled flights had been recorded for other terminals.
International response: Anita Anand alerts to violence in Jalisco
Canada's minister of foreign affairs, Anita Anand, issued an alert highlighting confrontations, road blockages and burned vehicles in Jalisco, explicitly naming Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta among affected localities. The international notice amplified the travel implications of the unrest and reinforced appeals for travelers to verify arrangements before traveling to the region.
What makes this notable is the convergence of a high-profile security operation and immediate disruptions to civilian air travel: a single law-enforcement action produced street-level violence that in turn forced flight diversions, the suspension of airport activity in Manzanillo and international travel advisories. The timing matters because the events unfolded in the morning hours, producing same-day cancellations and diversions and activating emergency coordination across federal and airport authorities.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions. Travelers planning to use airports in Jalisco, including those heading to puerto vallarta, are advised to keep in direct contact with their airlines and follow instructions from airport emergency operations centers as the situation evolves.
