Holidaymakers in southwestern Mexico have been advised to stay indoors following the demise of a notorious drug lord, leading to a spate of violent incidents. The Mexican military conducted a major operation resulting in the death of El Mencho, also known as Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, on February 22. His killing triggered confrontations including roadblocks with burning vehicles, a tactic often employed by cartels to impede military actions.
Social media videos showed smoke engulfing the tourist hub of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, with individuals running in panic at the state capital’s airport. The turmoil on the ground has also disrupted air travel, affecting two key airports – Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, the latter being a venue for the 2026 World Cup matches. Millions of football fans worldwide are expected to visit the US, Mexico, and Canada for the summer tournament, with Mexico hosting 13 matches in cities like Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey, including the tournament opener on June 11.
However, concerns are mounting among football enthusiasts due to the cartel-related unrest just months before the tournament. Flight operations have been severely impacted, with numerous inbound flights from the US, Mexico, and Canada either diverting mid-air or landing elsewhere. This has left thousands of tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta without a means to depart.
The Puerto Vallarta airport issued a statement on Twitter, announcing the cancellation of international and most domestic flights on February 22, 2026. They assured passengers of safety within the airport premises under the protection of the National Guard and the Ministry of National Defense. The British Foreign Office updated its travel advisory to caution Britons about security incidents in Jalisco, urging extreme vigilance and adherence to local authorities’ directives.
While security incidents have been reported in various parts of Mexico, British tourists in regions like Cancun remain unaffected by the current unrest. The violence erupted just 100 days before Mexico City hosts the World Cup’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa, promising the largest World Cup ever with 48 teams competing across 104 games from June 11 to July 19.
