Traumatized tourists share tales of violence, gunfire as they land back in LA after fleeing Mexican cartel war
Tourists returning to the United States described scenes of chaos and fear after violence swept parts of western Mexico following the reported killing of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as “El Mencho.”
Passengers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport said they encountered gunfire, burning vehicles, and armed cartel members during the unrest that erupted after Mexican security forces targeted the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The violence spread across several cities in western Mexico.
A Northern California tourist said gunmen stormed the resort where she was staying in Puerto Vallarta. “It’s something I’ll never forget — they had rifles and masks,” she told local television after landing in Los Angeles. She said she would never return to the coastal destination, long considered one of Mexico’s top tourist hubs.
Another traveler, visiting Guadalajara, said he heard sustained gunfire from his hotel and was ordered to remain indoors. “Nothing felt safe,” he said, recalling sirens and police chases outside. “I didn’t even want to look out the window.”
Ramsey, 18, who had spent about a week in the state of Jalisco, said he saw cartel members near burning vehicles while traveling. “I was worried they might just start shooting,” he said.
Mina Diaz, 47, from San Pedro, had been visiting Guadalajara and Chapala for five days. She described witnessing torched cars along the roads. “It’s the kind of thing you see on the news, not in real life,” she said. “It was really frightening.”
Authorities said more than 70 people — including suspected cartel members and Mexican security personnel — were killed during the operation against Oseguera Cervantes and in the subsequent clashes. Cartel fighters reportedly set up flaming barricades and carried out retaliatory attacks across the region.
Travelers described scrambling to leave as airports shut down and highways were blocked. Nora Castillo, 62, from the San Fernando Valley, said her daughter rebooked her flight after violence forced the closure of Guadalajara’s airport. She texted her daughter after landing safely: “I just arrived.”
“She told me she wanted to cry,” Castillo said. “It feels like war there, and no one knows how long it will last.”
Alondra Belmonte, 22, who was heading to the Guadalajara airport, said he passed several burned-out vehicles along the highway. “They wanted to scare people,” he said. “And it worked.”
About Post Author
