Cartel violence following the killing of a cartel leader has disrupted travel across multiple Mexican states, prompting flight cancellations and U.S. Embassy shelter-in-place advisories.
T
he Mexican Army killed the leader of one of the country’s powerful drug cartels on Sunday; in response, cartel members sought to wreak havoc over a swath of cities in several Mexican states, including at least one popular tourist destination, stranding visitors indoors after flights were cancelled and local officials issued emergency warnings.
In several states, cartel members set vehicles on fire and blocked roads with disabling spikes while engaging in clashes with security forces. In the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta, there were reports of army helicopters and troop transports patrolling the city after several vehicles and convenience stores were set on fire by cartel members.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued an update Sunday, characterizing the security concerns as widespread, including Jalisco State (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Baja California State (including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada), Quintana Roo State (including Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), and areas of Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas States. The Embassy advised U.S. citizens in those areas to shelter in place until further notice.
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No airports have been officially closed, but several airlines have cancelled flights in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Rideshare and taxi services have been suspended in Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta’s airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, says the passenger and cargo facilities and the airfield are under the protection of the National Guard and the Ministry of National Defense, but notes that the majority of Mexican and international carriers suspended flights Sunday, and suggests passengers should contact their airlines for flight status updates.
Several U.S. carriers, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, have issued flexible accommodations policies for travelers holding tickets for Puerto Vallarta or Guadalajara, allowing them to rebook travel for other dates without penalty. Alaska Airlines is offering flexible accommodations for those cities, and also Manzanillo. Canadian carriers Air Canada and WestJet also suspended flights.
Several Puerto Vallarta-bound flights, including a number operated by WestJet, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines, turned around midflight and returned to their origin airports on Sunday.
The killing of a cartel leader can be a tense moment in Mexico because of the resulting uncertainty. Past killings or arrests have escalated into broader conflicts between the cartel and government forces, or a surge in violence as opposing factions within and between cartels jockey for position in a power vacuum. The cartels can also act out to as a show of force to deter further government action against them, particularly by threatening to hobble economic activity and disrupt daily life for residents of Mexican cities.
Several Mexican states have issued shelter-in-place advisories, and the violence has also shuttered public transit, public schools, and universities.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico advised Americans in affected areas to remain in their residences or hotels, avoid areas around law enforcement activity, be aware of their surroundings, and monitor local media for updates on the situation. Travelers should also follow the instructions of local authorities, avoid crowds, keep in touch with family and friends via whatever communication channels are available, and call 911 in the event of an emergency.
The U.S. State Department has not adjusted the travel advisory for any Mexican state, outside of the current security operations update advising Americans to shelter in place. Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Riviera Nayarit, popular tourist destinations, have been ranked Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. The overall rating for Mexico is also at Level 2.
Cartel violence was not reported in the states of Yucatan and Campeche, which the State Department ranks Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions.