UPDATE: A Nashville medical student is currently trapped in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, following a deadly cartel shootout sparked by the Mexican army’s recent killing of a notorious cartel leader. Aimen Choudhary, a 27-year-old student at Meharry Medical College, was vacationing with friends when chaos erupted over the weekend.
The group arrived at the Fiesta Americana Resort on Friday, October 13, 2023, but by Sunday, the tranquil skies turned smoky as helicopters patrolled the area. “Around lunchtime is when people started talking about the civil unrest,” Choudhary stated. The violence escalated after the military killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Tour guides warned the group about the dangerous situation after a snorkeling trip. Choudhary recounted, “We contacted taxi services, Uber services; everything was shut down. There was no way to get back to our hotel.” With transportation options exhausted, the group faced a harrowing 30-minute walk back to the resort, navigating streets filled with smoldering vehicles. “It just hit us quick… that this is in fact happening,” she added.
As tensions rose, armed men in uniform were spotted outside the resort, prompting officials to instruct guests to shelter in place. Choudhary’s flight, scheduled for Tuesday, remains uncertain as numerous flights have been canceled in and out of the area. “The best that we can do is hope,” she said, expressing her concern over the “unknown” future.
Choudhary is not alone in facing this crisis. Fellow Nashville resident Sawyer Watts and his girlfriend, vacationing at the Four Seasons at Punta Mita Golf Course, have also reported disturbances, including a visible plume of smoke from a nearby fire. “One of the staffers showed my girlfriend a picture of the fire and Google translated, ‘Don’t leave the resort,’” Watts said.
The ongoing violence has led to disrupted flight schedules in Puerto Vallarta, with officials urging tourists to seek shelter and limit unnecessary movement. Despite the turmoil, Choudhary remains thankful for the support from locals. “We are taking it one day at a time,” she emphasized. “The people around us have been amazing, and we’re doing the best that we can.”
As the situation continues to develop, travelers in the area are advised to stay alert and follow official guidance. More updates will follow as authorities respond to this urgent crisis.
