A woman hoping to fly to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Monday for her daughter’s wedding was among scores of air travelers affected by violence in the region after the killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes.
The fugitive leader of powerful Jalisco cartel, who is known as “El Mencho,” was killed by the Mexican army in a slaying that touched off a wave of violence across the country. His killing during attempt to capture him is the highest-profile blow against cartels since the recapture of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago.
The violent response led to flight cancellations at Los Angeles International Airport and other airports to and from Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Among travelers in limbo at LAX was Marilou Buquid, who will likely miss her daughter’s wedding Tuesday in Puerto Vallarta.
“I would like to see her walk down the aisle,” Buquid said Monday morning at LAX. “Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. We prepare for almost a year and a half for her wedding.”
Buquid said her daughter suggested she cancel the flight due to violence. The flight was eventually cancelled by the airline.
In a security alert from the State Department, U.S. citizens in the region were told to shelter in place.
Several airlines, including Alaska, Delta and American, announced on their websites that they are canceling flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara and offering flexible travel policies to allow passengers to change their flights.
The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader. In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that the U.S. government provided intelligence support for the operation.
His killing resulted in violence in large swaths of the country that included cars set on fire in several states. The burned out cars blocked roads, a tactic often used by cartels to block military operations.
Authorities in Jalisco, Michoacan and Guanajuato reported at least 14 dead, including seven National Guard troops.
Schools cancelled classes in many states.