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Bitlux announced on Wednesday that it has completed a series of emergency relief and recovery flights to areas in western Mexico after a surge of cartel attacks in the state of Jalisco caused by the death of Nemesio "El Mencho" Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) and the Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) were both heavily hit. Videos were posted online of passengers and staff running through terminals and outdoor areas of the airports and there were reports of gunfights between cartel gunmen and security forces. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico issued a security alert on Tuesday, covering several areas in western Mexico. Flights continue to be disrupted in Puerto Vallarta due to the lack of available flight crews, the alert stated. The Embassy said it is keeping close contact with airlines to monitor their plans and that most airports are operating normally.Bitlux states that it activated internal crisis-response procedures when commercial travel became unreliable. Crews, operations staff and on-site personnel were mobilized to transport passengers out of PVR and moved aircraft out of GDL when airport access permitted. Bitlux personnel verified safe routes and coordinated passenger transfers while operation teams managed flight planning revisions, access restrictions, fueling availability and crew duty considerations.
"Our entire team moved into mission mode," said Bitlux CEO Kyle Patel. "When uncertainty rises, the objective is straightforward: get people home safely and keep operations moving."
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The company's response relied on its network of aviation partners, local contacts and real-time information sharing. Patel claims the scale of the response underscored how private aviation can act as a rapid mobility solution during emergencies. The company has over a decade of experience in conducting emergency and time-critical operations during security situations, natural disasters and infrastructure disruptions. It has previously provided support in Israel, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Falkland Islands and parts of the southeastern United States following major hurricanes.
"Airplanes can operate when other options become limited," said Patel. "That flexibility is what allows us to help in situations like this."
Bitlux states it is prepared to provide more departure or recovery flights. It will continue to monitor developments in the region and has expressed appreciation to crews, ground personnel, partners and community members who contributed to the effort.