Hundreds Stranded at Guadalajara Airport After 'El Mencho' Killing; Puerto Vallarta Flights Impacted
Hundreds of travelers were left stranded at Guadalajara International Airport after airlines canceled or diverted service in the wake of the killing of Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho". The disruption has affected routes including puerto vallarta and forced passengers to spend more than 24 hours at the terminal as carriers and authorities adjusted operations.
Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara
Since last night the corridors of the Aeropuerto Internacional de Guadalajara were described as crowded with passengers who could not leave. Airlines canceled or diverted flights following the abatimiento of Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho", leaving hundreds of people waiting to board and reach their destinations. Some travelers have now been at the terminal more than 24 hours and many reported sleeping on benches and in passageways after late-evening cancellations.
Photo credit: EL INFORMADOR / J. ACOSTA
Traveler accounts: Miguel, Antonio, Laura, Jorge and Citlali
Concrete accounts from stranded passengers illustrate the scale and confusion. Miguel, who came from Mexico City, said he arrived at the airport at 20: 00 with an 23: 00 flight that was canceled and that he spent the night in the terminal. Antonio and Laura, returning from Oaxaca, said they reached the airport at 19: 00, had their flight canceled twice and were told their booking was moved to "this night"; they were also told about an available hotel but could not use it because it was full. Antonio called the experience "very bad, " said the situation ruined their vacation and expressed hope for a refund.
Jorge and Citlali were scheduled to fly at 13: 00 but remained behind when their flight was canceled. They arrived at the airport at 10: 00, which Jorge said was when the movement began. He described seeing people run and said they sheltered in some corridors until the Guardia Nacional issued an instruction that turned out to be a false alarm; after that they exited the shelter. Citlali added that there was nothing open to eat and "everything was closed. " The airline gave Jorge and Citlali a pass to depart today at 15: 00, and they are expecting to reach their final destination that afternoon.
Volaris assistance for Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta
Volaris informed passengers today that anyone with a flight from or to Guadalajara or puerto vallarta can request assistance by sending a WhatsApp message to 525558988599. The airline's messaging is intended to centralize help for affected customers and to manage rebookings or information for those whose travel was interrupted by the cancellations and diversions.
Guardia Nacional and security response
Security forces were involved in managing the situation inside the terminal. Passengers were sheltered in passageways at the direction of the Guardia Nacional during a period of high movement and alarm; that directive was later described by passengers as a false alarm, but it contributed to the panic some witnesses described. The presence and instructions of the Guardia Nacional directly affected passenger movement and briefed sheltering procedures until staff cleared the area.
Lufthansa says it will operate flights to Mexico
Amid the cancellations and diversions, Lufthansa has stated it will continue to operate flights to Mexico despite violence linked to drug cartels. What makes this notable is the contrast between some carriers canceling or diverting service and Lufthansa's decision to press forward with schedules. The timing matters because the airline's stance comes immediately after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho, " an event that already prompted a wide operational response at Guadalajara and ripple effects for routes including those to puerto vallarta.
The immediate consequence of the abatimiento of "El Mencho" was a cascade of canceled and diverted flights that left many travelers stuck overnight in a terminal where shops and food services were reported closed. Airlines and authorities have taken distinct actions: some grounded or rerouted flights, Volaris set up a WhatsApp line at 525558988599 for passengers to request help, the Guardia Nacional implemented sheltering instructions that were later called a false alarm by travelers, and Lufthansa publicly committed to continuing service to Mexico. Passengers continue to wait for rebookings and refunds as carriers and security forces manage the operational fallout.
