Chaos erupts at Mexican airports after death of drug lord 'El Mencho'

Alyssa Goldberg, Will Carless

USA TODAY

Updated Feb. 22, 2026, 6:26 p.m. ET

Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports have been disrupted after Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed in a military raid

Air Canada temporarily suspended operations in Mexico's Puerto Vallarta due to an ongoing security situation on Sunday, Feb. 22, per Reuters. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines also reported diverted or canceled flights.

The Mexican government released a statement on Feb. 22 that the Special Forces of the Mexican Army planned and executed an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, to arrest Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. He was killed at the scene.

The United States Department of State Consular Affairs posted on X at 1:17 p.m. that U.S. citizens in the following locations should shelter in place until further notice: 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. Canada also issued a high-risk travel advisory for Mexico, advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel.

https://mx.usembassy.gov/security-alert-ongoing-security-operations-u-s-mission-mexico-february-22-2026/

Travel, tourists impacted by military operation

Videos circulating on social media show panic at Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports in Mexico, with travelers dropping their luggage and running through the airport to take shelter behind chairs and flight desks. Photos and videos also show plumes of smoke swirling throughout the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco.Late Sunday morning, tourists in the small beachfront resort of Sayulita were warned to return to their hotel rooms and stay indoors because of the escalating violence. Stores and restaurants quickly shuttered, leaving tourists confused and some stranded.

Travelers shared rumors and reports of blockades on the streets of nearby Puerto Vallarta, a major tourist town. Hotel employees urged clients not to leave their rooms and certainly not to venture onto the major highways.

A USA Today journalist vacationing in Sayulita was just leaving for the Puerto Vallarta airport when a hotel manager warned him not to leave. "The narcos are coming towards Sayulita," the employee, who did not want to be named, warned.

Across Sayulita, stores and restaurants remained shuttered Sunday evening.

• Geopolitics can reroute, delay and ground your flight without warning
• Global events can affect flights, even if travelers aren’t visiting areas directly impacted by conflict or foreign policies.
• When conflicts erupt unexpectedly, many flights wind up being diverted to avoid danger on the ground.
• Conflicts are treated like other causes of flight cancellations or delays by regulators for compensation purposes.

"Travelers whose flights are significantly delayed or cancelled by geopolitical events are entitled to an automatic refund from their airline, according to rules passed by the Department of Transportation in October 2024," Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at travel insurance company Squaremouth, previously told USA TODAY in an email. She added that in order to qualify for the refund, travelers must decline alternative flight arrangements if the airline offers them.

When a conflict or other airspace restriction comes into play, travelers are best served by looking out for notices from or getting in touch with their airline for alternatives.

Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY