Airport Disruptions and Alerts After El Mencho Death Put Puerto Vallarta Flights and Jalisco Airports Under Scrutiny
The morning after the abatimiento of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, airports across Jalisco experienced disruptions and heightened alarm — with footage of panicked passengers circulating and some international flights diverted to puerto vallarta. Authorities have described a mix of localized operational impacts and coordinated responses intended to preserve safety.
What unfolded at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara
Following the death of El Mencho and ensuing violent reactions attributed to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), initial accounts described chaos inside the Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara as passengers ran and sought shelter. Multiple users captured video of tension in the terminal. Airport authorities characterized the episode as a case of collective psychosis, triggered when some travelers ran and others perceived a threat amid widespread violence in Jalisco and other states.
AFAC: Diversions to Puerto Vallarta and operational reassurances
The Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC) outlined that events this morning in the surroundings of the airports of Guadalajara, puerto vallarta and Tepic prompted some international airlines bound for Puerto Vallarta to divert flights under their internal protocols. AFAC emphasized several points about airport operations:
- Airports continue operating with normality.
- Interinstitutional coordination and collaboration with security instances are in place to guarantee the safety of operations and users.
- Centros de Operaciones en Emergencias (COE) at each airport are operating established protocols.
AFAC also stated it is maintaining constant communication with authorities to monitor and inform on airport conditions, and recommended passengers keep direct contact with their airlines for possible itinerary adjustments. The authority reiterated that, up to the moment referenced, no cancellations or interruptions to scheduled flights were reported.
Manzanillo suspends activities; road situation causes cancellations
The Aeropuerto Internacional de Manzanillo and the Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) described operational impacts tied to a situation on the road to the airport. Manzanillo reported cancellations of flights scheduled for the day and advised travelers to stay in touch with their airlines for status updates. A statement about the road situation noted affected operations and urged passengers to remain attentive. The context also indicates that, in Manzanillo, activities were suspended.
National coordination and Mexico City airport status
The Gabinete de Seguridad indicated that airports in Jalisco are operating normally and that passengers are boarding flights as scheduled, with no relevant events registered inside the facilities. The Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (AICM) in Mexico City communicated that its installations are operating normally in the afternoon following the events tied to the abatimiento of El Mencho. A message beginning with a travel recommendation appears cut off in the provided context and is unclear in the provided context.
International reaction: Canadian alert covering Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta
On the international front, the Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand issued an alert highlighting confrontations, road blockages and vehicles set ablaze in the state of Jalisco, explicitly naming Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. The alert underscores cross-border concern over the security situation following the operation that resulted in El Mencho's death.
Practical guidance for travelers and what comes next
Passengers are advised to monitor communications from their airlines and to expect airport COE teams to follow established emergency protocols. The current picture combines operational normality in some terminals with targeted disruptions at others; the situation may evolve, and details could change. Recent updates indicate diversions and local suspensions tied to road and security conditions, while coordination among federal and airport authorities continues to prioritize passenger safety.
Uncertainties remain about the duration and geographic scope of disruptions; further developments may clarify the extent of cancellations and any broader effects on air traffic in the region.
