Americans in Mexico turn to private flights, security, with big costs
Americans seeking to flee Mexico this week faced canceled flights and reports of violence on city streets. Some turned to social media and found offers for evacuation services that came with hefty price tags.
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. Those disruptions caused shelter-in-place orders for locals and travelers.
One Florida-based security company's viral offer to escape caught the attention of Mitchell Rusitzky, 23, who was trying to fly home to San Francisco from Puerto Vallarta with three other friends. They were attempting to rebook flights, but inquired with Sabre Defense Team after seeing an X post about extraction services.
“The costs were pretty outrageous, but we wanted to look at all options, and this would be a good plan F,” Rusitzky said. “We figure if buildings start burning or we hear reports of hostages, we’d consider a private service.”
A Canadian said she was frightened for family in Puerto Vallarta and reviewed the same evacuation services. She grew suspicious when prices weren’t directly advertised.
An internal price sheet reviewed by USA TODAY showed Sabre was offering a shared private aircraft with seats for $5,500 per adult or $4,000 per child. The company also quoted a private 14-16 passenger plane for $92,000 to $105,000.
Sabre estimated it could provide secure airport transportation for another $2,500. Or it could arrange an armored vehicle for $3,500 to $6,500. A premium “executive protection team” could provide two agents on a three-day deployment for $10,800.
Sabre’s CEO Steve Slepcevic and Director of Operations Byron Rodgers did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Slepcevic has a long and sometimes contentious history with disaster services. He was the subject of an Los Angeles Times investigation about his firm Paramount, then was accused of stealing from Hurricane Katrina victims in 2009 and labeled by the newspaper, “a disaster chaser.” Prosecutors dropped the charges in the Katrina case.
More recently, Slepcevic produced a documentary about the U.S.-Mexico border with Charlie Kirk and coordinated fundraisers with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign.
On Feb. 23, Rusitzky’s group from California snagged a seat on a United flight after long waits on hold to rebook. They took a nerve-wracking taxi to the airport and made it home safely.
“When this thing popped off our phones started blowing up,” Slepcevic said. “We started making arrangements right away. We work closely with an aviation airport in Mexico City and pilots that run an aviation school.”
Slepcevic said their plan for armored SUVs had to change because they were being targeted by cartels. “Now you have to travel as a grey man, in regular cars. Now you have security operators and a group of four to six people and it becomes a bit of a challenge.”
Some private jets leaving Mexico
Another option for Americans with canceled flights antsy to leave: arranging a private jet themselves.
Ryan DeBruyne, director of charter sales for Mercury Jets, said they saw an uptick in inquiries Feb. 22-24. A ticket on those one-way flights: about $2,500 or around $15,000 to $20,000 for six passengers.
“We've been able to evacuate people out of harm’s way by performing numerous charter flights starting (Feb. 23) with additional flights scheduled for (Feb. 24),” DeBruyne said. “It is very common for private jets to be first wheels on ground to help people evacuate from areas of unrest.”
On Feb. 23, flight records showed at least 11 private jets departed the Puerta Vallarta airport. About 30 commercial flights left the airport that day. Many airlines were offering free rebookings through early March for travelers.
The State Department declined to comment on private or evacuation services when asked by USA TODAY. Officials there continue advising Americans to enroll online in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or follow the department’s security WhatsApp channel.
Firefighters work at the site where buses were set on fire by members of organized crime following at a tourist area in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.
Kevin Coffey, a travel safety expert and former Los Angeles Police Department detective, questioned some of the for-profit motives of companies advertising evacuation services.
“This is the same as when you saw predatory construction crews with our fires in the Palisades charging exorbitant prices,” Coffey said. “I’m a big proponent of subscription services for emergencies, but the challenge is the whole world is calling and there are so many private planes and pilots available.”
Coffey’s advice mirrored the conclusion of many travelers in Mexico this week: Wait it out.
And if travelers are truly seeking private plane services, Coffey advises reputable brokers or working through providers offered by some large corporations. He also warns that many subscription services will only provide evacuations in certain circumstances.
Many global rescue companies monitoring, not flying to Mexico
Some of the industry’s leading medical and emergency evacuation services said the situation in Mexico this week did not meet their threshold for services.
That’s the case for Global Rescue, said Bill McIntyre, spokesman for the company, who said they’ve been asked about the service.
“At this time, an evacuation would only be warranted if there is a clear, imminent threat to life and the individual cannot safely self-evacuate. Given the current situation, including reported hostilities, roadblocks, and checkpoints, traveling by ground could increase exposure to risk. For that reason, the security advisory has been to shelter in place until safe, verified passage to the airport can be confirmed. This approach minimizes unnecessary movement and reduces the likelihood of encountering additional hazards.”
Medjet, another air-medical and emergency transport company, likewise was not performing evacuations that can cost more than $100,000, a company official said.
"Currently, our security providers are actively monitoring the situation and assisting Medjet Horizon members seeking clarification and advice, but there are no evacuations in progress tied to the situation in Puerto Vallarta,” said John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet. “Active evacuations can create a significantly elevated risk environment and can place travelers in greater danger than remaining in place under structured monitoring and guidance.”
A spokesperson for International SOS confirmed the company is monitoring the situation Mexico and has assets available, but declined to say whether they had evacuated any members or how much it would cost.
Another firm, World Travel Protection, said the safest option for its members has been to shelter in place. The company said it offered to relocate customers to safer neighborhoods or major cities.
“For travelers seeking emergency evacuation support, we strongly recommend contacting their travel assistance provider before attempting to move independently, as uncoordinated travel in volatile environments can significantly increase person risk,” said Francis Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection.
Nonprofit leading evacuation arrangements
Grey Bull Rescue and its leader Bryan Stern told USA TODAY the outfit was arranging helicopter and plane transportation for Americans in Mexico on Feb. 24.
The service is free to Americans and relies on donations, unlike many of the for-profit or subscription services.
Stern said the nonprofit’s intake form was inundated with dozens of requests, but several Americans were already able to rebook commercial travel. They did not specify how many Americans they anticipated they could help.
“The way we’re set up means we don’t have to worry about profit margins. Some of the subscription places have kickout clauses about acts of war or acts of God, but that’s when you need help the most,” Stern said. “There are lots of people still there, scared and trying to get out. It’s not over yet.”
