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Videos going viral on social media show people running and hiding in panic at the Guadalajara airport in the wake of the death of a cartel leader known as “El Mencho.”
In a statement on February 22, due to the erupting violence in multiple cities after the cartel kingpin’s death, the Puerto Vallarta airport announced that all international and most domestic flights were cancelled. The airport wrote that the cartel activities did not imperil safety at the airport, indicating that the move was being taken as a precaution. The National Guard and National Ministry of Defense were protecting the airport, according to the statement. The airport urged passengers to “remain calm.” Almost half of all flights to or from the Guadalajara airport were cancelled or delayed, according to FlightAware.
The U.S. government urged U.S. citizens to shelter in place in Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (including Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State. Air Canada and United Airlines cancelled flights to Puerto Vallarta.
The U.S. Government Confirmed That Mexican Forces Killed ‘El Mencho,’ Calling Him ‘Ruthless’
⚠️ Urgent: Chaos at Guadalajara Airport (GDL). Reports indicate heavy violence and attacks by the CJNG following the confirmed death of leader "El Mencho." If you are in Jalisco, stay indoors and avoid the airport area entirely. Be careful out there. pic.twitter.com/ZZS6Bt3bL1
— Shield (@Shieldmetax) February 22, 2026
Christopher Landua, the deputy secretary of state for the U.S., wrote, “I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins. This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. The good guys are stronger than the bad guys.”
As violence, including burning cars and roadblocks, erupted in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, he wrote, “I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern. It’s not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve.”
The Mexican government confirmed the death of Nemesio Oseguera, “El Mencho,” in a statement, writing, “During this operation, military personnel were attacked, so in defense of their integrity they repelled the aggression, resulting in four members of the ‘CJNG’ criminal group dead at the scene and three seriously injured, who lost their lives during their transfer via air to Mexico City; among the latter is Ruben ‘N’ (a) Mencho, however, the corresponding authorities will handle the expert activities for their identification.”
(Photo by Ulises Ruiz / AFP via Getty Images)
Who is El Mencho? Oseguera Cervantes was “one of the founders and the current leader of the Cartel de Jalicso Nueva Generación (CJNG). Oseguera Cervantes is one of the most wanted fugitives in Mexico,” according to the U.S. government.
“CJNG was formed in 2009 and has grown into one of the most violent drug cartels in Mexico,” the government wrote. “It has been assessed to have the highest cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking capacity in Mexico, and over the past few years, includes the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States.” The statement adds, “Since 2017, Oseguera Cervantes has been indicted several times in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.”
Flights Were Cancelled & Delayed at Both Airports
At least one major airline suspended service to Puerto Vallarta. “Due to an ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta impacting the @VallartaAirport, Air Canada has temporarily suspended operations there today,” Air Canada wrote on X on February 22. “We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue.”
Air Canada added: “Customers are advised not to attempt to go to the airport unless their flight is shown as operating on http://aircanada.com, and will be directly notified of changes to their itineraries. We will share more information as soon as it becomes available.”
🚨🇲🇽 Chaos at Guadalajara International Airport: Videos show employees sprinting for cover as reports spread of armed men inside the terminal.This follows CJNG's cartel meltdown, retaliating hard after rumors of federal ops targeting their leader "El Mencho."Mexico needs to… https://t.co/fNEsPI7Kdr pic.twitter.com/NDJo5REZnf
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 22, 2026
As of 6:30 p.m. CT, 50% of flights at the Puerto Vallarta airport, or 61, were cancelled, as of February 22, according to Flight Aware.At the Guadalajara airport, 49 flights were cancelled (25%) and 42 were delayed (22%).
Fires all across Puerto Vallarta. Heating that it’s cartels lighting cars on fire. pic.twitter.com/3vSRAdoTYy
— Artur Wilczynski (@Arturmaks) February 22, 2026
Concerned travelers and parents vented on social media. “My daughters are in the airport in Puerto Vallarta. The Airbnb they were renting told them that there was going to be trouble,” wrote one person. “They made a early morning run to the airport for their flight. The flight was canceled. There’s no attack on the airport in Puerto Vallarta like in GDL.”
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