It came after the Mexican government said it killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. They said it happened during a shoot-out in Jalisco as the military attempted to capture him.
On Monday, there were some travel improvements on the roads and in the sky. The President of Mexico said all of the 250+ cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared.
United Airlines said flights resumed to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, including nonstop flights from Houston.
Houstonian, Danny Lopez, said he was visiting Guadalajara with friends. Lopez said as they boarded their return flight on Sunday, they could see smoke in the distance.
"Then we saw the plane across from us had caught fire from the back. Just as we were preparing to taxi, the pilot came on the intercom and told us there was criminal cartel activity happening at the airport and throughout the city, and that we could not take off," Lopez said. "We were told the flight would most likely be canceled and to remain calm."
Lopez said after three long hours on the plane, they were cleared for departure.
Debra Stevenson, a former Houstonian in Puerto Vallarta for work, said she was in the middle of it all as well.
She said she saw black plumes of smoke with vehicles and buildings lit on fire.
"I literally could look around the bay and see the plumes of the black smoke," Stevenson said. "As trucks were set on fire, car blockades were created along the one and only access route that literally runs around the bay."
Sam Houston State University Security Studies Professor Nathan Jones said this cartel group is widely considered the most powerful in Mexico and one of the most violent.
"It's been very common that when a high-value target is captured or killed, that that cartel will engage in a very visceral, almost urban siege like response," Jones said.
On Monday, Stevenson said she noticed cleanup efforts underway by the Mexican government.
"The cars are being moved away and pulled out of the middle of the road," Stevenson said.
But even as the streets return to some normalcy, Jones said the question remains, what lasting impact will this have?
"This was a very strong symbolic leader, and if the various cells of the organization don't recognize succession, leadership, you can have a fragmentation situation," Jones said. "All these smaller groups controlling their local areas, but then inevitably becoming in conflict with other groups. That's what's concerning."
According to Mexican officials, 70 cartel members have been detained across seven states.
In Jalisco, they said 25 members of the Mexican National Guard were killed and 30 cartel members were killed.
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