'We were dodging burning buses.' Tourists still stuck in Puerto Vallarta
TJ Johnson was wrapping up what he described as an amazing family trip to Puerto Vallarta when violence erupted Feb. 22, after the killing of a powerful cartel leader in Jalisco.
Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, who led the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación and was known as "El Mencho," was killed during a Mexican military operation. His death spurred unrest in Puerto Vallarta and chaos at its airport, as well as at Guadalajara’s airport.
Johnson, who co-hosts a morning show on 104.9 The More in Spencer, Iowa, believes he was among the last travelers to catch a cab from his resort before they stopped taking passengers.
"The driver who took us did not brake at all. He drove on parts of the road that he shouldn't have, and we were dodging, burning buses and burning taxi cabs, and he was clinching a rosary and kissed it a couple of times," Johnson told USA TODAY.
He faced another frantic scene at the airport when an alarm went off, prompting everyone to evacuate to the tarmac. "Seeing all of the gate attendants and the baggage claim guys and so forth all just hugging and crying like that shook me up more than an actual running out of the airport," he recalled. His flight and others were canceled.
Tourists watch a column of smoke after members of organized crime carried out roadblocks and burned down some businesses following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, February 22, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Flights are expected to resume at both Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara's airports, according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. At a news conference on Feb. 23, she said the situation has "calmed down."
However, Johnson isn't sure when he'll get home and doesn't plan to leave the airport until he can.
What areas of Mexico are affected?
- Jalisco State, including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara
- Baja California State, including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada
- NayaritState, including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area near Puerta Vallarta
- Parts of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Zacatecas states
The latest security alert no longer includes the states of Quintana Roo (home of Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Tulum), Sinaloa (which includes including Mazatlán) nor Tamaulipas, where the embassy and consulates say the situation as returned to normal.
What should Americans in Mexico do?
The State Department advises travelers in those areas to seek shelter, avoid unnecessary movement and stay away from areas with law enforcement activity; monitor local news for updates; follow local authorities’ guidance; and keep loved ones up to date on their status.
Americans are also encouraged to register for the State Department’s free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program whenever they go abroad, so they can receive important updates and be more easily reached in the event of an emergency.
Johnson said some travelers who were initially stranded with him at the airport have since left for hotels, but he's staying put.
"Because we are being guarded by the National Guard, we are probably in the safest space for an American tourist to be, so we've decided to stay at the airport," he said.
As of noon ET on Feb. 23, Johnson didn't know whether he'd be able to catch a flight home before the end of the week, but lawmakers from Iowa, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley's office, are helping them look into options. He said fellow travelers and airport staff have also been a big help, especially after airport restaurants closed amid the chaos.
"We've all kind of gone into survival mode. We've all helped each other share drinks or shared snacks or what information that people are giving us or sharing," he said. "If there were just some more movement of planes coming in and out, we could easily take care of the people that are here."
Is it still safe to visit Mexico?
Mexico, as a whole, remains at a level 2 travel advisory from the State Department, which advises travelers to "exercise increased caution."
A number of airlines have canceled flights to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, which are both in Jalisco. Sheinbaum Pardo says flights will resume in the next few days.
In the meantime, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are among carriers offering travel waivers to customers who have trips scheduled to or from those destinations in the immediate future.
Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam ship will skip a planned stop in Puerto Vallarta on Feb. 23, instead spending the day at sea to "prioritize the safety of our guests and team members," the cruise line told USA TODAY. The ship departed from San Diego for a 12-day Mexico cruise on Feb. 15, according to CruiseMapper.
Norwegian Cruise Line also canceled Norwegian Bliss’ Feb. 25 visit to Puerto Vallarta. “We are closely monitoring the ongoing situation and any additional itinerary updates for ships scheduled to call to Mexico in the near future will be communicated directly with impacted guests,” the company said in an emailed statement. The ship departed on a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles on Feb. 22.
USA TODAY has reached out to Mexico’s official tourism arm for additional comment.
(This story has been updated with new information.)
Contributing: Nathan Diller, USA TODAY
