Airlines across the United States and Canada grounded flights to certain regions in Mexico on Sunday. The cancellations came after Mexican authorities reported the death of notorious drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho,” during a military operation. This event incited reported violent clashes in the state of Jalisco, leading to travel advisories.
United Airlines announced the suspension of all flights scheduled for Sunday to both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. In a statement to FOX Business, United Airlines confirmed, “United Airlines flight operations to/from PVR (Puerto Vallarta) and GDL (Guadalajara) are canceled today.”
Southwest Airlines followed suit by canceling all flights bound for and departing from Puerto Vallarta on the same day. The airline explained in a statement to FOX Business, “Southwest Airlines canceled the four flights we had scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today and the four turns back. We’ll continue to evaluate the conditions as the situation develops. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and our employees.”
Similarly, American Airlines decided to suspend its remaining Sunday flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Mazatlán as a precautionary measure.
“Southwest Airlines canceled the four flights we had scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today and the four turns back,” the airline said in a statement to FOX Business. “We’ll continue to evaluate the conditions as the situation develops. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the safety of our customers and our employees.”
American Airlines said it halted its remaining Sunday service to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Mazatlán.
“As a result of the situation in Guadalajara (GDL), Mazatlán (MZT) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR), American has canceled flights to and from GDL, MZT and PVR for the remainder of Sunday, Feb. 22,” the airline said in a statement to FOX Business. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make any additional changes to our operation as necessary to ensure the safety and security of our customers and team members.”
Air Canada said it has temporarily suspended operations in Puerto Vallarta.
No additional cancellations had been announced beyond Sunday as of publication.
Several airlines said they issued travel waivers allowing affected passengers to rebook without change fees.
The flight changes come after Mexican troops reportedly conducted operations earlier Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting El Mencho, a former police officer who became the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, which US authorities have identified as a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.
Government officials warned of clashes in Jalisco and broader criminal activity, prompting the US Embassy in Mexico to issue shelter-in-place advisories for multiple states.
El Mencho carried a $15 million US bounty and rose to power following the arrest of JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Over roughly the past 15 years, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación has expanded from a regional criminal group into a global trafficking organization operating from its stronghold in Jalisco.
“Iâve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed âEl Mencho,â one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins,” US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X. “This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
The Mexican Defense Department said the operation was conducted as part of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the US, and that US authorities provided complementary intelligence that contributed to El Mencho’s killing.
FOX Business reached out to Air Canada for additional comment.
