Gunmen reportedly stormed Guadalajara Airport in Mexico as a drug kingpin’s death sparked a wave of gang violence in the country. Terrified passengers were filmed fleeing through departure halls while alarms sounded across the terminal, and airport workers rushed travellers to safety. Witness footage circulating online appeared to show crowds running in panic, with some people stumbling as others hid behind check-in counters and baggage conveyors.

Airport staff reportedly ushered travellers into restricted areas, with dozens seen crouching on the floor in an attempt to shield themselves from potential gunfire. Gunshots were reported to have been heard inside the complex, while some passengers were evacuated away from the terminal building. There have been no confirmed reports of civilian injuries.

The violence erupted just hours after Mexican military forces killed notorious cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho”, during a dawn security operation in the western state of Jalisco.

Mexico’s defence ministry said the feared drug lord later died from injuries sustained during the operation while being transferred by air.

Several armoured vehicles and weapons, including rocket launchers, were reportedly seized, while three soldiers were wounded and taken to hospital.

Authorities believe members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel launched retaliatory attacks across the region following confirmation of his death.

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Throughout Sunday, vehicles were set ablaze and gunmen were reportedly sighted on streets across Jalisco as blockades brought parts of the state to a standstill.

Airlines warned passengers to stay away from the airport amid what officials described as an “extremely volatile” situation, while federal forces and the National Guard were deployed to secure the area.

The cartel leader had long been one of the world’s most wanted fugitives, with the United States previously offering a $15million reward for information leading to his capture.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations and has spread far beyond its original base, with authorities linking it to drug trafficking networks supplying cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine internationally.

According to online aviation-industry news website, AeroTime, Authorities said the unrest was not confined to Guadalajara, with violence also reported in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta where flights were suspended amid the deteriorating security situation.

Foreign governments warned their citizens to shelter in place and avoid travel to parts of Jalisco as security forces attempted to regain control.

In a statement posted on X, Guadalajara International Airport said its facilities had not been the scene of a gun battle.

Officials added the panic captured on social media was triggered by wider violence in the region rather than a direct attack on the terminal.