Four flights flying to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport were cancelled Sunday, following the killing of one of Mexico’s most powerful cartel leaders.
Civil unrest in Mexico after the killing of drug cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes affected the flights, according to airlines. Those flights included: Sun Country flight SY 535, which returned to MSP near 11:45 a.m.; Delta Airlines flight DL 1862, which returned near 12:42 p.m.; Delta flight DL 1935, which was diverted to Guadalajara, Mexico, around 11:32 a.m., then returned to MSP at 5:59 p.m.; and Sun Country flight SY 531, which diverted to Harlingen, Texas, around 12:03 p.m., and returned to the Twin Cities at 4:10 p.m., according to MSP.
“The flight augmentations in and out of PVR are due to the current situation in Puerto Vallarta,” Sun Country said. “We are closely monitoring the situation there and are working with local authorities to determine when it is safe to resume operations.”
Delta said the airline has taken steps to adjust its operations accordingly and coordinate with local airport officials while reaccommodating impacted customers.
“The safety of our customers and crew always comes first, and we are closely monitoring the situation in the region,” a Delta spokesperson said.
Targeted capture, unrest
Army troops targeted Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in the western state of Jalisco, Sunday, close to 200 miles away from Puerto Vallarta, according to the Associated Press. Oseguera Cervantes was wounded during his capture in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died while being flown to Mexico City. Oseguera Cervantes is said to have been the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the biggest cartels in Mexico, known for trafficking extremely large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.
Burning vehicles blocked roads in Guadalajara, the state capital, and elsewhere. Videos circulating on social media showed smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic. The U.S. State Department warned U.S. citizens in Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guerrero and Nuevo Leon states to remain in safe places due to the ongoing security operations. Air Canada also cancelled flights to the Puerto Vallarta airport.
Schedules in flux
The airlines had not announced further cancellations as of Sunday evening, but said changes to flight schedules are ongoing.
“Our priority is the safety of our customers, and we are working to get passengers to and from their destinations when safe,” Sun Country said.
Delta said customers who are travelling to or from Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara over the next few days should monitor their travel via the Fly Delta app or on Delta.com in case of any changes to their itinerary. A travel waiver on Delta.com has also been published for those who need to change flights.
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