Cartel violence in Mexico has led to significant disruption in air travel, with 39 flights destined for Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara diverted on Sunday. The diversions affected both commercial and private aircraft, causing thousands of passengers to land far from their intended destinations. Most of the diverted flights—30 in total—were bound for Puerto Vallarta, a popular Pacific Coast resort known for attracting American and Canadian tourists. Another nine diverted flights were headed for Guadalajara, including an Aeromexico flight originating from Madrid.
In addition to the diversions, around 370 flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were canceled on Sunday and Monday, according to data from FlightAware. Of the diverted flights, 24 returned to their cities of origin, an occurrence known as a flight to nowhere.
The disruptions included two WestJet flights from Calgary to Puerto Vallarta that turned back approximately 30 minutes apart. One aircraft reversed course near Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the other over Colorado at about 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Passengers on the earlier flight were back in Calgary nearly five hours after takeoff.
Two private jets heading to Puerto Vallarta were also among the diverted aircraft. One was an Embraer Praetor 500 that departed from Austin, Texas, and returned after approximately an hour near Monterey, Mexico. The second was a Dassault Falcon 2000 owned by a fruit and vegetable wholesaler; it took off from Chicago but turned around over southern Texas, diverting to San Antonio. After a short stop, it headed back to Chicago.
The US Embassy in Mexico reported that no airports were officially closed, but roadblocks in the regions of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta caused cancellations and flight disruptions. Authorities from the United States and Canada have issued advisories urging their nationals to shelter in place amid the ongoing violence.
Passengers impacted by the diversions experienced extended flight times; for example, some spent nearly 11 hours in the air before landing in Monterey, more than 400 miles away from their original destination. Efforts to obtain comments from airlines have so far been unsuccessful due to local working hours.
This wave of travel disruption underscores the continuing security challenges faced in parts of Mexico, affecting not only local residents but also international travelers and commerce.
