Mexico is gripping over the arrest of the son of narcotics kingpin El Chapo, Ovidio Guzman, arrested. Planes even became victims.
Aeromexico airlines, which took off from Culiacan City to the capital Mexico City on Thursday (5/1), were shot at by Ovidio's men. They also attacked the Mexican Air Force at Culiacan airport, Sinaloa State, Mexico.
Footage circulating on social media showed gunfire engulfing the airport as violence erupted across the city. Employees and passengers of the plane were seen looking down during the attack.
Aeromexico reported that no one was injured in this shot. The airport has resumed operations on Friday (6/1).
Mexico's Defense Minister, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, has confirmed the news. He explained that one civilian plane and two military planes were hit by gunfire when drug cartel minions tried to free Ovidio who was arrested in Culiacan.
According to Sandoval, military aircraft were pressed to make an emergency landing at the site due to the impact of gunfire.
A civilian plane passenger caught in the crossfire later recounted his experience. Initially, David Tellez and his family arrived safely for flight AM165 at 8:24 a.m. local time at Culiacan airport on Thursday (5/1).
The 42-year-old was traveling with his wife and three children—who were seven, four and one year old, respectively—after celebrating Christmas.
On the way, he encountered a road blockade after the previous night's gunfight. Although the arrest of the drug lord's son had not been confirmed by authorities, nervous security guards urged passengers to enter the plane immediately.
"The authorities did not say anything," Tellez said, quoted by Reuters on Saturday (7/1).
His family had been hiding in the bathroom after hearing that drug gang members were at the scene. The rumors turned out to be untrue. The passengers finally boarded immediately.
However, just as the plane was about to take off, a number of military aircraft successively landed beside them.
Taking out a mobile phone, Tellez recorded two military transport planes on the runway. A smaller attack aircraft and a number of military trucks accompanied him. Gunshots then echoed from a distance.
"As we accelerated takeoff, we heard gunshots very close to the plane, and that's when we all took cover to the floor," Tellez said.
A flight attendant said the engine was hit by gunfire, triggering a leak. The crew then rushed to direct passengers to disembark to the windowless waiting room at the airport.
Tellez planned to board another flight the next day. While waiting for the schedule, they will stay at the airport.
"We prefer to stay at the airport until it's safe to go," Tellez said.
"[The situation in] the city is worse. There was a lot of shooting and chaos," he continued.
A wave of violence forced authorities to close airports and schools in Culiacan City after Ovidio's arrest. The 32-year-old, nicknamed 'El Raton' or 'The Rat' was flown on a military plane and detained in Mexico City.
During the capture process, fierce battles swept through Culiacan. The gunfire from the helicopter even seemed to illuminate the sky.
People suspected of being cartel members also set fire to and hijack people's cars. Security forces trying to stem the violence patrolled the streets. Burning vehicles were scattered in a city that resembled a war zone.
The government said ten soldiers and 19 suspects were killed in the operation as of Friday (6/1). One of them was the colonel who commanded an infantry battalion. Another 35 soldiers suffered gunshot wounds, while 21 gunmen were arrested.
Thousands of soldiers have already reclaimed control of the city after cartel members tried to free their boss.
"We are constantly trying to bring the situation under control," said Sinaloa's head of public safety, Cristobal Castaneda.
Ovidio allegedly helped run the Sinaloa Cartel since his father was arrested and extradited to the United States (US) in 2017. As a result of trafficking hundreds of tons of drugs into the country for 25 years, 'El Chapo' is serving a life prison sentence in the US.
Nevertheless, its cartels remain one of the strongest drug trafficking organizations in the world. Ovidio is a key figure in the cartel. She and one of her brothers allegedly oversaw nearly a dozen methamphetamine labs in Sinaloa.
They are believed to have conspired to distribute cocaine and marijuana as well. Ovidio also allegedly ordered the murder of a number of informants, a drug dealer, and a Mexican singer who refused to perform at his wedding.
Ovidio was temporarily detained in 2019. However, he was soon released after his cartel launched an all-out war in retaliation. They fired machine guns and set vehicles on fire along the road in Culiacan.