The US State Department on Sunday urged American citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, road blocks, and flight cancellations following the killing of a top cartel boss by Mexican soldiers.
“Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, US citizens should shelter in place until further notice,” a statement from the department’s Consular Affairs section on social media platform X read.
“Roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with some domestic and international flights cancelled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” it added.
Nemesio Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said in a statement. He had a $15 million US bounty on his head.
Canada also issued an advisory, saying it was monitoring the situation closely and advising Canadians in Mexico to “keep a low profile and follow the advice of local authorities.” It urged citizens in Michoacan, Guerrero, and Jalisco states to shelter in place, citing “shootouts with security forces and explosions.”
Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled flights to parts of Mexico on Sunday following the unrest. US carriers United, American, Southwest, and Alaska, as well as Canadian airlines Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, announced the cancellation of flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo.
Some planes had to turn back while already en route to Mexico, including Southwest, which turned back four flights originally bound for Puerto Vallarta. Southwest said it would send aircraft to Mexico to repatriate stranded passengers and staff once the situation normalises.
