American citizens have been urged to shelter in place in the Mexican state of Jalisco after members of the CJNG Cartel carried out coordinated attacks in the popular tourist town of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara in response to the Mexican army’s killing of cartel leader ‘El Mencho.’
The cartel set fire to multiple vehicles and buildings across Puerto Vallarta, and also attacked security checkpoints with gun battles between cartel members and security officers taking place in the open.
There have also been reports of a cartel attack on Guadalajara International Airport, with videos circulating on social media of passengers and airport staff fleeing in terror as panic spread both inside and outside the terminal building.
Large plumes of smoke have been seen across Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara as cartel members carry out a violent rampage across both cities.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has issued an urgent security alert urging American citizens to shelter in place until further notice due to the developing security situation.
International airlines have rushed to cancel or divert flights headed to both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
In a statement, Air Canada said it had temporarily suspended operations to Puerto Vallarta due to an “ongoing security situation.” The airline advised passengers not to attempt to travel to the airport.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also issued travel advisories after they both cancelled scheduled services to Jalisco.
Delta flight DL-1992 from Atlanta to Guadalajara had just crossed the border from the United States into Mexico on Sunday morning when the Boeing 737 was diverted to Austin.
Multiple other Delta flights from Atlanta to Puerto Vallarta have been cancelled or diverted on Sunday.
In a statement posted to X, the Mexican government security cabinet, however, refuted claims of chaos at airports in Jalisco, saying: “The Security Cabinet reports that the airports in Jalisco are operating normally. Passengers are taking their flights as scheduled, and no relevant incidents are being recorded at the facilities.”
And rather than urging passengers to stay away from airports, Mexican flag carrier Aeromexico advised customers to arrive early due to road blockages at various points in Jalisco.
A spokesperson for Guadalajara International Airport also confirmed that the airport remained operational and that the terminal remained under the protection of the Mexican National Guard.
The statement added that there had been panic among passengers but that no attack had actually occurred.
This is a developing story.
