The violence registered this Thursday in several points of Sinaloa following the arrest of Ovid Guzman, one of the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman most wanted by the US, caused airlines to suspend their operations in the city of Culiacán and other areas of that state.
“For the safety of all passengers, the airport will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., if you have any questions regarding your flight, contact your airline, avoid going to the airport,” the Culiacán airport warned on its Twitter account. of a million inhabitants.
Meanwhile, the Mazatlán airport (500,000 inhabitants), also in Sinaloa, reported that it would close “for the safety of all passengers” starting at 09:30 local time (15:30 GMT) and will reopen until 20:00 (02:00 GMT on Friday). .
These closures are derived from the violent acts that have occurred in state airports, as several videos circulating on social networks show that armed groups went to the facilities and began shooting attacks to presumably prevent Ovidio from being transferred to Mexico City. .
The local newspaper Los Noticieristas broadcast a video in which people are seen running inside the airport; while another user recorded images where shots are allegedly heard directed at an Army aircraft that was trying to land at the Culiacán airport.
Aeroméxico plane receives bullet impact
Aeroméxico, the flag carrier of the Aztec country, confirmed that one of its planes was hit by a bullet when it was getting ready to take off at the Culiacán airport.
“This morning a bullet impact was detected in the fuselage of an EMbraer 190 team that was ready to operate flight AM165 on the Culiacán-Mexico City route, which was canceled for security reasons,” the company reported in a statement. .
The company specified that the affected aircraft never began its takeoff run and following the incident the protocols were activated and the corresponding authorities were notified.
Aeroméxico assured that all passengers on the canceled flight “are safe.” In addition, he reported that “the operations scheduled for this Thursday to and from Culiacán, Los Mochis and Mazatlán” were cancelled.
Airlines cancel flights
The company Volaris reported that “derived from the closures of airports in culiacanMazatlán and Los Mochis our flights to and from those destinations are cancelled.
For its part, VivaAerobus also specified that due to the situation of violence in various parts of the city, for the safety of all its users and the personnel involved in the operation of its flights, the terminal in Culiacán had closed.
“We remember that although it was the Airport of culiacan the one that suspends activities, this has effects on flights to other destinations through the routes and connections that the affected aircraft cover daily”. he detailed.
Likewise, the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) also reported that due to the closure of airports in Sinaloa, there may be cancellations or delays of flights with said entity, for which it asked users to be aware of their airlines for possible itinerary changes.
This Thursday, Mexican authorities captured Ovid Guzmanone of the leaders of Sinaloa cartelwhich generated blockades in different roads in Culiacán, in addition to clashes in different parts of the city, as well as vehicles set on fire and reports of vehicle debris from civilians, starting around 04:30 local time (10:30 GMT), which caused the city came to a standstill.
Ovidio Guzmán López, “El Ratón”, together with his brother Joaquín Guzmán López, is charged in the United States on charges of criminal association related to illicit drugs. According to the US authorities, the brothers associated to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the United States from Mexico and other parts of the world from 2008 to 2018. (With information from EFE and AFP)
