Flights Diverted to Puerto Vallarta as Mexican Airports Face Disruptions After El Mencho’s Death
The morning after the abatimiento of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, airports across Jalisco experienced disruption: panic at Guadalajara’s terminal, cancellations and suspensions on routes to Manzanillo, and some international flights diverted to puerto vallarta. The events have prompted operational measures by airport authorities and an international travel alert from Canada.
Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara
Passengers at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara experienced chaotic scenes when early reports suggested sicarios had entered the terminal. Authorities concluded that the disturbance was collective psychosis: some travellers began running and others mistook that flight for a direct threat, influenced by violent incidents on the streets of Jalisco and other states after the strike that killed El Mencho. Several users captured video of travellers running and taking shelter in the terminal. The Gabinete de Seguridad confirmed that airports in Jalisco are operating normally and that passengers are boarding flights as scheduled, with no relevant events logged inside the facilities.
Puerto Vallarta flight diversions and airline responses
The Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) disclosed that, because of the incidents this morning in the surroundings of the airports of Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Tepic, some international airlines with destination to Puerto Vallarta diverted their flights under their internal protocols. AFAC emphasized that the airports continue operating normally, that Centros de Operaciones en Emergencias (COE) at each airport are working under established protocols, and that interinstitutional coordination with security agencies is active to protect operations and users. Passengers were urged to keep in direct contact with their airlines for itinerary updates.
Local footage and witness accounts contributed to pressure on carriers to alter routes; the operational effect was visible in flight behavior toward puerto vallarta, where some inbound services were rerouted rather than cancelled outright.
Aeropuerto Internacional de Manzanillo
The Aeropuerto Internacional de Manzanillo registered direct operational impacts: access to the airport was affected by incidents on the road to the terminal, prompting cancellations of flights scheduled for today and interruptions in normal activity. The Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) confirmed that the situation on the road produced disruptions in aerial operations. Manzanillo’s airport operations were suspended amid those conditions, and airport authorities recommended that travellers remain in contact with their carriers for updates.
Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil and national coordination
AFAC stated it continues to work and maintain constant communication with all authorities to provide updates on airport status. The agency reiterated that, up to the moment of its statement, no blanket cancellations or systematic interruptions of scheduled flights had been recorded nationwide, even while singling out the specific diversions to Puerto Vallarta and the suspensions at Manzanillo. COE units at affected airports are operating under protocol and federal agencies are coordinating to guarantee security for passengers and staff.
Anita Anand and Canada’s alert on Jalisco violence
Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, Anita Anand, issued an alert highlighting confrontations, blockades and vehicles set on fire across Jalisco, explicitly naming Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta as affected locations. The international advisory followed the security incidents tied to the operation that resulted in the abatimiento of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), and underscores how the domestic violence quickly produced cross-border travel concerns.
What makes this notable is the rapid chain from a high-profile security operation to visible disruptions in commercial aviation and international travel guidance. Officials have balanced assurances that most terminals remain open with clearly documented exceptions: cancelled flights and a full suspension at Manzanillo, multiple flight diversions to Puerto Vallarta, video evidence of panic at Guadalajara, and an external advisory from Canada. The situation remains fluid and passengers are advised to consult their airlines on the status of their travel plans.
