SEATAC, Wash. — All flights between Seattle and the popular tourist destination of Puerto Vallarta have been canceled Sunday after the Mexican army killed the powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a military operation.
The leader, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” was wounded in an operation to capture him in Jalisco. He died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement. The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.
The killing of the powerful drug lord set off several hours of roadblocks with burning vehicles in Jalisco and other states.
Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing over the tourist city of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, and people sprinting through the airport of the state’s capital in panic. On Sunday afternoon, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to Puerto Vallarta “due to an ongoing security situation” and advised customers not to go to their airport.
Alaska, United, Delta, and Southwest airlines have also canceled flights from Sea-Tac to the Puerto Vallarta airport, according to FlightAware. The flight tracker also shows that dozens of flights from U.S. and international airports to and from Puerto Vallarta are canceled.
Alaska Airlines told KOMO News the Puerto Vallarta airport was closed, and United Airlines said its flight operations to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are canceled. Find United travel alerts at this link.
A Delta Airlines travel advisory said travel to, from, and through Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara may be affected due to civil unrest through Feb. 26.
“The safety of our customers and crew always comes first and we are closely monitoring the situation in the region,” Delta said in a statement.
Southwest confirmed its four flights scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today, and the four turns back were canceled.
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.
Canada’s embassy in Mexico warned its citizens in Puerto Vallarta to shelter in place and generally to keep a low profile in Jalisco.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.