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AIRLIVE > All articles > Location > South America > BREAKING Chaos at Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta Airports, Mexico after death of ‘El Mencho’
IncidentSouth America

BREAKING Chaos at Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta Airports, Mexico after death of ‘El Mencho’

AIRLIVE contibutors
Last updated: February 22, 2026, 18:15 UTC
Published: Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 18:14 UTC
Category: Incident South America
Author: AIRLIVE contibutors
Data: GDL PVR
Resort city of Puerto Vallarta
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GUADALAJARA, MEXICO — Large-scale coordinated attacks by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have plunged the state of Jalisco into chaos today. The violence follows unconfirmed reports from high-level sources suggesting the death or “elimination” of the cartel’s notorious leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho.”

What began as a targeted military operation has rapidly spiraled into a regional security crisis, targeting critical infrastructure and international travel hubs.

Chaos at Guadalajara International (GDL)

Panic gripped Guadalajara International Airport this afternoon as CJNG gunmen launched a multi-pronged assault.

  • Active Shooter Reports: Preliminary reports from ground sources indicate a possible active shooter situation both outside the main terminals and potentially within the concourse.
  • Passenger Turmoil: Video footage circulating on social media shows travelers ducking behind check-in counters and barricading themselves in airport lounges as gunfire echoed near the entrances.
  • Security Response: Federal forces and the National Guard have been deployed to the tarmac, but the situation remains fluid and “extremely volatile.”
https://twitter.com/TTheBattlefield/status/2025633872898072823

Puerto Vallarta Under Siege

Simultaneously, the resort city of Puerto Vallarta has been effectively cut off. Cartel operatives have implemented a “scorched earth” tactic known as narcobloqueos (narco-blockades).

LIVE All flights to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico are diverting or returning due to smoke in the city following security incidents @wingbits pic.twitter.com/7xBFMEOXMr

— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) February 22, 2026
  • Choke Points: Armed groups have seized and torched heavy vehicles near the cruise ship ports and main arterial roads. These burning barriers are designed to create “choke points,” preventing police reinforcements from entering and trapping residents and tourists within specific zones.
  • PVR Airport Grounded: All flights to and from Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) have been officially canceled.
  • Psychological Warfare: Local authorities suggest the scale of the arson is intended to intimidate law enforcement into standing down, a common CJNG tactic used to facilitate the escape of high-ranking members.

Torched vehicles in Puerto Vallarta. CJNG is burning Mexico's tourist hotspots following the death of El Mencho. pic.twitter.com/s0MjmrBr1w

— Conflict Alarm (@ConflictAlarm) February 22, 2026

The Catalyst: The Fall of a Kingpin?

While the Mexican Ministry of Defense (SEDENA) has not yet issued a formal victory statement, the sheer ferocity of the cartel’s “retaliation” strongly suggests that El Mencho—one of the world’s most wanted men—has either been captured or killed.

The CJNG is known for its paramilitary-style discipline; an attack on an international airport is viewed by analysts as a “maximum pressure” tactic to force a government retreat or respond to a decapitation of their leadership.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates as security forces attempt to regain control of the region.

TAGGED:GDLPVR
ByAIRLIVE contibutors
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Since its founding in 2014, AIRLIVE has grown into one of the most trusted aviation news networks in the world, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its diverse team of contributors from across the globe. AIRLIVE’s crew include aviation journalists, air traffic analysts, airport insiders and aviation enthusiasts.

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