Stranded tourists beg US and Canadian airlines to rescue them from Puerto Vallarta war zone as cartel chaos spreads across Mexico: Live updates

By RACHEL BOWMAN, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and ELIOT FORCE, US NEWS REPORTER and STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER

Updated: 13:42 EST, 23 February 2026

Mexican cartel chaos has spread to popular spring break towns, triggering widespread flight cancellations from Mexico to the United States and leaving travelers scrambling to get home. 

One traveler took to social media to beg Air Canada for flight updates, declaring that they were stranded. ‘Hey folks, understand there’s a lot going on. Just wondering if Air Canada will add any flights this week to help stranded customers in Puerto Vallarta,’ they wrote. 

President Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to declare that the nation needed to ‘step up their effort’ on cartel and drug problems amid widespread unrest.  

The gunfire between narco gangs and officials began after the Mexican Army went into the rustic town of Tapalpa, which is about 170 miles southeast of Puerto Vallarta, in the state of Jalisco on Sunday, where they killed Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, according to high-ranking officials who spoke with local publications.

El Mencho was the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels that plays a key role in trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl to the US.

Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported at least 14 people were killed Sunday, including seven National Guard troops as videos circulating on social media showed tourists walking on beaches with smoke rising in the distance. 

The US State Department has issued a shelter in place order due to ‘ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity’ that encompasses vacation hotspots like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. 

Follow along for live updates.

American and Canadian tourists beg airlines to get them home amid Puerto Vallarta chaos

North American tourists took to social media to plead with airlines to reschedule canceled flights for them as cartel unrest spreads across Mexico.

Passenger Chris Black begged Air Canada to ‘add flights’ this week after he became stranded in the Mexican beach town.

Due to ‘ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity,’ US citizens in a number of locations in Mexico have been urged to ‘shelter in place,’ according to the US Embassy in Mexico.

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Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said she expects flights to resume on Monday or Tuesday, including to and from Puerto Vallarta.

Southwest Airlines said the company had canceled flights through 12pm at Puerto Vallarta on Monday, but would update travelers accordingly.

Vehicles drive past a charred bus the day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Zoo visitors trapped inside parking lot grounds on Sunday

More than 1,000 visitors from across Mexico were stranded overnight at Guadalajara’s city zoo after burning vehicles blocked major roads and violence flared following the death of Mexican cartel leader ‘El Mencho.’

Twenty-one buses carrying families and children remained parked inside the zoo grounds, guarded by local police and armed forces, as passengers slept inside the bus for safety.

‘We came here on an excursion and were left trapped,’ visitor Ángeles Martínez told the New York Times.

‘We were looking at the animals when our phones suddenly filled with alerts about what was happening outside. It was terrifying.’

On Monday morning, families waited for police to escort their bus out of the city.

Mexico located and killed drug cartel boss after ‘visit from romantic partner’, officials reveal as his ruthless wife dubbed ‘The Boss’ vanishes amid bloodshed

Officials have said that Mexico located and killed drug cartel boss ‘El Mencho’ after a visit from a romantic partner, as speculation is mounting over the fate of his ex-wife narco queen Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia.

Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla revealed on Monday that the information leading to his capture and death stemmed from someone who he was involved romantically with.

El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, was the boss of one of the fastest growing criminal networks in Mexico, notorious for trafficking drugs to the US and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it.

Tourists complain about being stuck at luxury resorts amid cartel violence in Mexico

American tourists visiting Puerto Vallarta have started to complain online about being stuck at luxury resorts as cartel violence ripped through the area. 

Terrifying photos and videos from Mexico showed tourists and airport personnel alike running as armed cartel members took over the airport.

Armed thugs on motorcycles and the sounds of their gunfire have also been reported by residents of Puerto Vallarta. Videos of Mexican forces exchanging fire with cartel members have started popping up on X and Instagram.

Mexico’s defense secretary says eight cartel members were killed in operation to capture ‘El Mencho’

Mexico’s defense secretary General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo said in a statement on Monday that at least eight Jalisco New Generation Cartel members were killed in a high stakes military operation to capture Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes yesterday.

What began as a mission to arrest Cervantes ended in a ‘very violent clash,’ Trejo said.

‘It was truly a very violent attack by the organized crime personnel,’ he continued.

Ammunition and missile launchers were seized during the operation, Trevilla added.

Mexican president says there is ‘more tranquility’ on streets today

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum eased fears of widespread cartel violence on Monday after declaring that that Mexico was at ‘peace’ and ‘calm.’

‘We woke up without any blockades on any of the highways, and practically all activity has been restored,’ she said.

‘Today, there is already more tranquility, and there is government, and there are armed forces.’

Schools were shut down Monday in parts of the country, and flights were still suspended in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, where authorities say Segura was killed at a remote mountain hideout.

Vehicles on an almost empty street a day after a series of blockades and attacks by organized crimeClashes in Jalisco leave dozens dead

Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of security and citizen protection said in a conference on Monday that dozens were left dead as a result of cartel and armed forces clashes over the weekend.

‘Twenty-five members of the National Guard, one prison guard, and one from the State Attorney General’s Office died,’ as a result of six attacks against authorities in the region.

Harfuch also said that one woman had died and ’30 criminals also lost their lives.’

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Stranded tourists beg US and Canadian airlines to rescue them from Puerto Vallarta war zone as cartel chaos spreads across Mexico: Live updates