Texans Stranded in Puerto Vallarta Begin Returning Home After Cartel Violence

One traveler made it back to Texas, but others remain stuck in Mexico following deadly clashes.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Several Texas residents who were stranded in Puerto Vallarta after cartel violence broke out have started making their way back to the Lone Star State. 26-year-old Madison Witzig returned home to Corpus Christi on Tuesday, but the other five members of her travel party remain stuck in Mexico, unable to book flights home.

Why it matters

The outbreak of cartel violence in the popular tourist destination has left many American travelers stranded, highlighting the risks of visiting areas with ongoing conflicts between criminal organizations. This incident also raises questions about travel safety and preparedness for unexpected emergencies.

The details

The violence erupted on Sunday morning following the killing of cartel leader "El Mencho" by Mexican army units. Witzig and her family witnessed the chaos from a whale-watching tour, with the group being advised by local authorities to stay put due to safety concerns. Air travel from Puerto Vallarta airport resumed on Tuesday, allowing at least one Texan to return home, but many others are still waiting to book flights back.

  • On Sunday morning, Mexican army units attempted to capture Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho.
  • On Tuesday afternoon, 26-year-old Madison Witzig was able to return home to Corpus Christi on a Southwest Airlines flight.
  • On Thursday afternoon, Witzig's mother, Judy, was able to book an American Airlines flight back to Dallas.

The players

Madison Witzig

A 26-year-old Texan who was able to return home to Corpus Christi after being stranded in Puerto Vallarta due to the cartel violence.

Judy Witzig

The mother of Madison Witzig, who was able to book a flight back to Dallas on Thursday afternoon after previously being told the earliest she could return to the U.S. was on Sunday.

Shannon Bertrand

Another stranded traveler in Puerto Vallarta who was advised by local authorities to stay put due to safety concerns.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho")

The leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, who was killed by Mexican army units on Sunday, sparking the outbreak of violence in Puerto Vallarta.

Mario Duarte

The president and CEO of veteran-led Project Dynamo, who is helping get Americans home safely from the situation in Puerto Vallarta.

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What they’re saying

“I got onto the plane and the pilot comes on, and he says that they have reached maximum altitude. That's when I just felt my shoulder just completely drop and just complete relaxation.”

— Madison Witzig (FOX 4)

“Waking up, I told my husband, Joey, I said, "Can you pinch me?" Because I don't feel like I'm really in bed in my bed.”

— Madison Witzig (FOX 4)

“We witnessed a war zone, basically, from our whale-watching tour.”

— Judy Witzig (FOX 4)

“We've walked down to the guard at the gate at the entrance a couple of times, and they told us it wasn't safe to leave, so they've advised that we stay put.”

— Shannon Bertrand, Stranded Traveler (FOX 4)

“It's still fluid, and we're still advising our American citizens to be careful, to remain indoors as much as possible. Keep your documents and medicine readily available and in a go bag, just to grab it in case you need to, you know, quickly run out of some place or whatever or run to the airport or the nearest embassy.”

— Mario Duarte, President and CEO, Project Dynamo (FOX 4)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the risks American travelers face when visiting areas with ongoing cartel violence, and the importance of being prepared with emergency plans and supplies when visiting potentially unstable regions.