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In response to Mexican authorities announcing the death of notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” during a military operation, US and Canadian airlines halted flights to certain areas of Mexico on Sunday. This move came amid reports of ensuing violence in the state of Jalisco and subsequent travel warnings.
United Airlines took the precautionary step of canceling all flights scheduled for Sunday to the cities of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
“For today, United Airlines has suspended flight operations to and from Puerto Vallarta (PVR) and Guadalajara (GDL),” the airline conveyed in a statement shared with FOX Business.
Similarly, Southwest Airlines also decided to cancel all flights both arriving and departing from Puerto Vallarta on Sunday.
“Southwest Airlines has called off the four flights we had planned to operate to Puerto Vallarta today, along with the return trips,” the airline mentioned in its statement to FOX Business. “We are actively monitoring the situation as it evolves. The safety of our customers and employees remains our utmost priority.”
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 Joaquín “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.
“I’ve just been informed that Mexican security forces have killed ‘El Mencho,’ 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.