The Vikings called for a trade for the $8 million quarterback to challenge JJ McCarthy. Originally appeared in The Sporting News. Add sports news as a preferred source by clicking here.
The Minnesota Vikings are facing a challenging situation.
The team has an elite defence that is good enough to make the playoffs, but the quarterback’s play has not been good enough. However, because of the aforementioned defence, the Vikings still won nine games last year, but they did not have a high draft pick.
The Vikings also selected JJ McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season with an injury and has suffered multiple injuries in the 2025 season.
Even when McCarthy played in 2025, he did not deliver the most promising results. Could the Vikings get desperate this offseason and make a big move? Ryan Guthrie of PFSN Recently identified the Vikings as a team that could trade for quarterback Mack Jones.
Jones is contracted to San Francisco 49ers. Although Jones has a contract with the San Francisco 49ers for one more season, Brock Purdy is expected to be the starting quarterback. However, Jones has impressed in his opportunities and, as a result, could be an attractive option for other teams.
Regarding Jones and the Vikings, Guthrie offered the following:
Do the Minnesota Vikings still see JJ McCarthy? As their starter, however, the keyword this offseason in Minnesota should be ‘competition’. McCarthy has fought the anomaly this past year and posted a PFSN NFL QB Impact Score of 64.5, No. 37 in the league, and well below average. Despite this, the team finished 9-8, thanks largely to a dominant defence.
Jones has the ability to challenge McCarthy during training camp and also provides valuable insurance due to McCarthy’s history of injuries. And if Jones can win the job outright, he has the experience and skills to quickly elevate the Vikings into NFC contention.
However, head coach Kyle Shanahan reportedly loves Jones, and given Purdy’s extensive injury history, they may prefer to keep the veteran around.
The Vikings will likely blow away the 49ers with a trade offer for Jones. While an early draft pick might seem like a significant investment for Jones, the Vikings have demonstrated success in past reclamation projects.
Sam Darnold was a passer who failed at multiple stops and then revived his career in Minnesota. Perhaps head coach Kevin O’Connell views Jones similarly to Darnold and is prepared to accept the risk.
While Jones might not achieve the same level of success as Darnold, he could serve as a valuable backup plan. Jones is unquestionably a better option than Max Brosmer and Carson Wentz, who the Vikings had to rely on in 2025.
British film newcomer Robert Aramayo has been named best actor at the BAFTAs – beating other A-listers, including favourites Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, to the award.
Aramayo won the award for her performance in I Swear, which tells the real-life story of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, while Irish actress Jessie Buckley She was awarded Best Actress for her performance in the Shakespeare biopic Hamnet.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy-thriller One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infinity and Sean Penn, was the night’s biggest winner with six points at the BAFTAs, which includes Best Film, Best Director and Supporting Actor for Penn.
image: I Swear star Robert Aramayo won his BAFTA Rising Star award – before winning Best Actor. Image: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images for BAFTA
Accepting the Best Film award, Anderson – who had previously almost had his BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay handed down – said it was a “tremendous honour”, adding, “Anyone who says movies aren’t good anymore can immediately take offence because this is a great rubbish year.”
Prince William, who is president of BAFTA, and Kate were in the room to cheer on the winners, along with nominees Emma Stone and Kate Hudson, music stars Little Simz, Stormzy and Jessie Ware and Kylie Jenner – among other stars here in the UK to support her boyfriend, Chalamet.
image: The cast and crew of Hamnet accept the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film. Image: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images for BAFTA
breakfast for the stars
Host Alan Cumming brought some humour to the show, offering snacks to the A-listers—Jamie Dodgers for Chalamet and Jenner, Twiglets for Rose Byrne, and an OT Flapjack for DiCaprio (who said it looked “fantastic”).
During her speech, Aramayo was cheered on by her father and became emotional when she told the BAFTA audience: “I honestly can’t believe I’ve won this award.”
The 33-year-old, who grew up in Hull, thanked fellow nominee Ethan Hawke and said, “Everyone in this category blows me away.
“When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came to speak to us at Juilliard, and he gave a wonderful speech about longevity as an actor, protecting your instrument, and avoiding self-destructive behaviour, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room.
“So it’s incredible to be in this category with you tonight. Thank you, Ethan.”
image: Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner in the audience. Photo: Scott Garfitt/BAFTA via Getty Images
‘Nuclear bad fake tan’
Unlike Aramayo, Buckley was the favourite to win Best Actress after winning awards at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes earlier this year. She is the first Irish star to win this award.
“As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get the chance to make a movie,” she said in her speech.
Recalling her early days as an actress, she said, “I had a nuclear-bad fake tan, white hoop earrings and a polka-dot red skirt and one day I had the courage to say I wanted to be like Judi Dench.”
image: Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress. Picture: Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Buckley, who rose to fame on the talent show I’d Do Anything and was runner-up in the 2009 lead search for the role of Nancy in the West End revival of the British musical Oliver, said it was “insane” to be on stage, winning a BAFTA, and paid tribute to “the women of the past, present, and future who have taught me and will continue to teach me how to do it differently.”
Addressing her fellow nominees, the Irish actress said, “You are all radicals and you are doing this for naughty girls, and I am in awe of all your incredible performances.”
She dedicated the award to her daughter, saying, “Being your mother is the best job of my life and I promise that I will remain defiant so that you can remain connected to your perfect wild world as a young woman. I am so grateful for that.”
Read more on BAFTA:
Full list of winners
best red carpet fashion
image: Bugonia star Emma Stone was one of the A-listers on the red carpet. Picture: James Manning/PA
Sinners and Frankenstein’s Victory
Paul Mescal plays Shakespeare opposite Buckley, who plays his wife Agnes in Hamnet. The film tells the story of his son Hamnet’s death from the plague and how Shakespeare was inspired to write Hamlet.
Buckley’s win was one of two for the film, which also won Outstanding British Film.
BAFTA takes its course for Best Actor – and a second win after a battle gives even more reason to celebrate
katie spencer
Arts and Entertainment Correspondent
As his name was called, embracing his father, Robert Aramayo was this year’s biggest surprise at the Baftas – a relative unknown beating out favourite Timothée Chalamet and awards veteran Leonardo DiCaprio.
BAFTA has a way of having its own way, especially when it comes to recognising British films that may not be successful in Hollywood, and Aramayo’s performance in I Swear stopped critics in their tracks.
The night also saw the triumph of major American films. Vampire horror Sinners won three awards, including Best Supporting Actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku, as Frankenstein.
But One Battle After Another – a film that feels increasingly timely, one whose authority is seen as unpredictable, militarised, and with the power to destabilise entire neighbourhoods – was the big winner of the night.
As he accepted the award for Best Picture, Anderson said, “I know what freedom is – it’s filmmaking without fear… See you at the bar.”
A feeling worth celebrating.
Producer Sir Sam Mendes acknowledged the other nominees in the category and said, “As an industry or culture, we’re not great at patting ourselves on the back, but maybe we should.”
Elsewhere, period vampire horror Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan won three awards, including best supporting actress for British star Wunmi Mosaku and awards for original screenplay and score. Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, also won three awards – for costumes, make-up and hair, and production design.
Kyiv, Ukraine — Kyiv, Ukraine (AP) – Russia attacked Ukraine. Ukraine’s emergency service said on Sunday that one person was killed in the Kiev region after being bombed by missiles and drones.
Eight other people, including a child, were rescued from the debris of destroyed buildings, the service said.
The attack caused damage and fire in five districts in the suburbs of Kyiv: Obukhiv, Brovary, Boryspil, Bucha and Fastiv. In the village of Putrivka in the Fastiv district, emergency first responders worked to rescue people buried under debris.
Russia also attacked energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s southern Odessa region.
causing significant fires that the emergency service later extinguished.
During the nearly four years since then Russia launches all-out war on its neighbour. And despite a new pressure last year led by the US peace efforts, Ukrainian civilians have had to endure frequent airstrikes. Russia has stepped up attacks targeting the country’s energy grid, leaving Ukrainian citizens without electricity and heating amid harsh winter conditions.
men’s ice hockey The ultimate in the USA and Canada. In 2026 the Winter Olympics takes place today.
The last three have won gold medals: Finnish Olympic athletes from Russia (OAR) and Canada in 2014. Four years before that, in 2010, Canada won gold once again, defeating the United States in the final in Vancouver.
advertisement
The USA ice hockey has a total of 11 medals up for grabs but hasn’t brought home a gold medal since 1980, more than 45 years ago. Their only gold medal came in 1960.
But 2026 will mark the first time since 2014 that the NHL players have participated in Olympic ice hockey. Historically, the NHL and the International Olympic Committee failed to reach an agreement on allowing NHL players to participate. In both 2018 and 2022, it affected the United States, Canada and many other countries.
With the NHL once again included, Canada is the favourite for the gold medal in Milan. However, the United States won gold in women’s ice hockey by beating Canada.
Men’s Winter Olympic ice hockey schedule
the final
22 February
advertisement
Canada vs USA (8.10am ET/1.10pm GMT)
How to see
The match will be shown on NBC and Peacock in the US, CBC in Canada, and BBC (or Discovery+) in the UK.
Men’s Winter Olympic Ice Hockey Results
The semi-finals
20 February
USA 6-2 Slovakia
21 February
Canada 3-2 Finland
Quarterfinals
18 February
Czech Republic 3-4 Canada
Sweden 1-2 USA
Germany 2-6 Slovakia
Switzerland 2-3 Finland
Play-off round
17 February
Czech Republic 3-2 Denmark
Sweden 5-1 Latvia
Germany 5-1 France
Switzerland 3-0 Italy
USA Group C Results
February 12: Latvia 1-5 USA
February 14: USA 6-3 Denmark
February 15: USA 5-1 Germany
Teams train at the Milano Roe Ice Hockey Arena ahead of the Games (Getty Images)
Canada Group A Results
February 12: Czech Republic 0-5 Canada
February 13: Switzerland 1-5 Canada
February 15: Canada 10-2 France
All games will be played at either the Milano Row Ice Hockey Arena or the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Harry Brook’s side ignited England’s T20 World Cup campaign with a superb bowling performance, defeating co-hosts Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their opening match of the Super 8 stage.
England remained inconsistent with the bat.
Scoring 146-9, their bowlers took full advantage of the difficult surface to bowl out the hosts for 95 runs.
Jofra Archer dismissed key batsman Pathum Nissanka and fellow opener Kamil Mishra, but even more impressive were all-rounder Will Jacks’ three wickets inside the powerplay.
Jaques, who has struggled with the ball at times in this tournament, dismissed Kusal Mendis and Pawan Rathnayake in successive balls and included Dunith Velez as Sri Lanka crumbled to 34-5 under pressure to chase the target.
After Kamindu Mendis had Liam Dawson caught back and Dushan Hemantha bowled at his own wicket, Jack combined with Tom Banton to complete a fine relay catch at the boundary to dismiss Sri Lankan captain and last recognised batsman Dasun Shanaka for 30.
England’s batting is still far from ideal; this has been postponed for another day. Jos Buttler scored seven runs in 14 balls, Jacob Bethel fell in a tremendous slog and Tom Banton himself was run out.
Phil Salt’s 62 and Jack’s 21, the next highest score in an excellent all-round performance, were crucial.
England will play Pakistan on Tuesday and New Zealand on Friday in their remaining Super 8 matches.
Along with film awards, red carpet fashion is also a big part of any awards ceremony.
Emma Stone, Kate Hudson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Teyana Taylor, Timothy Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan, Carey Mulligan, and Rose Byrne are among the stars nominated today.
Now, the men have achieved a remarkable double victory.
Following a challenging beginning, Matt Boldy’s individual skill enabled the USA to make a spectacular comeback.
Boldy picked up the puck inside his own half, dribbled it over two defenders, and outran them to collect it before pushing it around stranded Jordan Binnington.
Similar to the previous two knockout rounds, Canada had to overcome a deficit but found it difficult to gain momentum by the conclusion of the second period.
The United States defended courageously, even when they were outnumbered three to five with two players in the penalty box.
But in the 38th minute, a quick switch from Devon Toews found Cale Makar open on the right side and he fired the puck past Hellebuyck.
Canada continued to dominate in the third period and had 41 shots to the USA’s 26 in regular time.
But it seemed they were determined to miss every scoring chance. Hellebuyck produced brilliant goalkeeping to keep out Mitch Marner from close range before Nathan MacKinnon somehow headed past an open goal at the back post.
The result meant three-on-three overtime for the first time in Olympic history. In the gold medal match, both teams field three players and one goalkeeper in overtime and play until a goal is scored without a shootout.
And after both sides had chances, Hughes buried his shot 101 seconds into added time to write his name in American sporting folklore.
Martin O’Neill and Danny Rohl were their rivals for the Scottish Premiership title, although both Celtic and Rangers dropped points on Sunday.
The Hoops were beaten 2-1 by Hibernian, with Kai Andrews’ late winner handing the visitors their first win at Celtic Park in 16 years.
Meanwhile, Rangers came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with bottom club Livingston. The game turned in their favour when Christian Montano was sent off on the hour mark, with goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mikey Moore earning a point.
It came after Hearts beat Falkirk on Saturday and they now have a four-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
O’Neill said, discussing Celtic’s chances in the title race on Sky Sports News: “We’re not out of it at all. I anticipated the unpredictable nature of this season. It’s disappointing to drop points today, but we’re still fighting out there.
“Whenever you lose a match, it’s always an opportunity missed but there’s plenty to play for. We’re still fighting for it, and the fans have been great.”
Image: Rangers head coach Danny Rohl believes the title race will come down to the final day
Rohl also predicted that the race would come down to the final day, saying to Sky Sports, “We have personality and character, but we conceded two goals and that made it very difficult. Overall, it was exactly the game I expected and in those two or three moments, you have to be there.
“We have to keep going. There are still 10 games to go. I said it in the group: we are not happy, but hopefully we can close the gap to four to one next week.
“We will hunt until the end. The final decision will be on the last match day. We are ready for it; my team is ready for it.
“They have a big belief; they are disappointed for a while, but it is important to lead by example and I believe we can do that.”
Should Rangers have been awarded a penalty?
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Andy Halliday analysed Mikey Moore’s late challenge with the benefit of a freeze frame and agreed that referee Ryan Lee made a big mistake.
A huge talking point in Rangers’ draw was Cammy Kerr’s late foul on Murray on the edge of the area. The Livingston man caught the Rangers forward, but the on-field referee gave nothing.
The decision went to VAR, who had to determine whether the foul came from inside or outside the area and whether it denied a goal-scoring opportunity. [DOGSO].
Overall, it was deemed out of bounds and not a DOGSO, so they couldn’t interfere and the game continued from the restart – much to the chagrin of the Rangers.
Rohl said it was the kind of decision that could decide a title, saying to Sky Sports, “The big question mark in my view was the foul. If it’s out, then again it’s a red card, or if it’s in, it’s a pen. I can’t take that today.
“It’s an important moment. It’s a moment where you can decide the race with the final action, but we had 90 minutes to score 3-2.”
Discussing the incident, Chris Boyd told Sky Sports, “There will be Rangers fans out there who will be hugely disappointed, but the reality is it’s not a penalty.
“The point of contact is obviously outside the box. If it had pulled and continued into the box, it would have been awarded as a penalty, or if it had been on the line.
“VAR cannot be involved, as they have come to the conclusion that it is not a DOGSO.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
There was major VAR controversy at Livingston when a late challenge on Mickey Moore was deemed fair and not a penalty.
“Referees are relying on VAR to bail them out a lot of the time… It’s become clearer day by day that it’s a foul. We can’t criticise and say we don’t want to re-refer the game and then when something like this happens, it should be re-referred.
“The laws of the game tell you if it’s not inside you, you can’t be involved. VAR did its job. The referee called it a foul on the pitch.”
James McFadden also agreed that the referee not calling for a foul on the field was a concern, adding, “I think it’s an easy decision for the referee to give.
“It’s a foul at first because Kerr is coming from the wrong side and tackling with his wrong foot. I think there’s a block… I don’t know if he has a clear shot. My problem is the referee doesn’t give a foul for that.”
Former Livingston and Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday It should have been a red card, saying, “It’s obviously a foul. We sometimes criticise VAR here but, on this occasion, the referee has to be criticised.
“We’ve seen red cards over the last few weeks where players have been brought down on the halfway line. If Moore isn’t fouled there, he’s volleying the ball towards goal… That strikes me as a foul and a red card.
“It’s not a penalty, but Moore is about to hit and he blocks.”
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Christian Montano made Livingston’s job more difficult, as his errant tackle on Zeidi Gassama rightly led to a red card.
‘Celtic in disarray; Rangers need to win that game if they want the title.’
Boyd criticised both sides after their respective results. He believes Celtic will survive if they lose to Rangers at the Old Farm next Sunday on Sky Sports.They are out of the title race.
“If Rangers want to beat Celtic, I think they’re done,” he said. “They are in chaos; there is no way out.
“You can keep cracking with last-minute goals, and the Celtic fans will love that. All you hear is, ‘That’s what champions do,’ but the reality is you can’t hold it over the line.
“Martin touched on it after that [Kilmarnock]. The game, he knew right away, couldn’t go on.”
Image: Callum McGregor reacts after Kai Andrews’ late strike condemned Celtic to a 2-1 defeat at Hibernian
As for Rangers, Boyd says the lack of a recognisable No. 9 continues to plague them, and they need to win at a place like Livingston if they want trophies.
He added, “Maybe if Rangers had got the first goal a bit earlier, they would have had a better chance of getting back into it. They had a lot of the ball but didn’t create many clear-cut chances.
“The lack of a natural goalscorer in the No. 10 position could bother Rangers.
“It’s three away games in a row for Rangers now. They’ve failed to win. There were many chances, but Rangers have spent a lot of money since the summer. There’s been a huge improvement, but if you’re going to win the title, you have to come to this ground and get the three points.
“If Hearts beat Aberdeen on Saturday, they can sit with their feet up and watch the game [Old Firm] on Sunday.
But if Celtic go to Ibrox and win, they will have a game in hand on Wednesday, and suddenly, that changes everything. This weekend, there’s only one winner and that’s Hearts.”
Video shows armed men allegedly from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel firing weapons as they enter Guadalajara International Airport in Mexico
Several videos from inside the airport have been shared online showing people running for their lives (Image: X)
Panic has struck a major airport after allegedly cartel members stormed the building, with shocking video footage capturing panicked crowds fleeing the scene.
El Mencho was killed by the military.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel entered Guadalajara International Airport in Jalisco, Mexico, just hours after their leader, El Mencho, was killed by the military. The news of El Mencho’s murder has reportedly prompted the members to retaliate.
Tragic scenes have emerged across the region as the Mexican military carried out a significant operation in Mexico that resulted in the death of El Mencho, whose real name is Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, today (February 22).
Make sure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google searches by making us a favourite source. Click here to activate. Or add us as your preferred source to your Google search settings.
Several clips have since surfaced online showing several armed men allegedly from the cartel storming the airport and brandishing their weapons. It is not clear if anyone was hurt amid the horrific scenes.
According to reports, there was chaos at the airport after vehicles were set on fire, roads were blocked and commercial complexes were extensively damaged, throwing the entire state into turmoil. The Daily Star.
Armed men were seen entering Guadalajara airport as it was closed (Image: X)
Tragic footage circulating on social media showed crowds fleeing, with some stumbling and falling as the gunmen advanced on them.
Further clips show airport staff escorting passengers behind check-in desks for their own safety. Many frightened passengers were seen hiding between desks and luggage conveyor belts, desperate to escape the unfolding catastrophe.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader ‘El Mencho’ has been murdered
Alarms were also raised along the runway as staff were seen running while passengers were evacuated from the terminal for their safety.
Despite gunshots being heard, it is not clear whether anyone was injured.
Federal forces and the National Guard have been dispatched to the airport amid an “extremely volatile” situation, according to AirLive.
Violent clashes broke out in parts of western Mexico on Sunday during a military operation that left a Jalisco New Generation cartel leader dead, sparking widespread security concerns across the region.
Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” during an operation by Mexico’s defence ministry in the western state of Jalisco. A statement on X said he was wounded during a raid on the city of Tapalpa and died while being transported to Mexico City.
The state of Jalisco is the base for a cartel known for smuggling large amounts of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed that the cartel leader, following his death, was described as “one of the bloodiest and most brutal drug lords”.
“This is a wonderful development for Mexico.
This is a wonderful development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world. Good people are stronger than evil people,” he said on X.
A US defence official told CBS News that the US military played a role in the operation through the Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartels, which regularly works with the Mexican military through the US Northern Command. The officer emphasised that “this was a Mexican military operation, so the success is theirs.”
Mike Vigil, former head of DEA international operations, told CBS News that the military operation was “one of the most significant actions taken in the history of drug trafficking.”
“He added that we are talking about someone who is almost at the same level as (Joaquin) ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and (Ismael) ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.” “(Oseguera Cervantes) is one of the greatest drug capos in the history of worldwide drug trafficking.”
During the operation, soldiers were fired upon and four people were killed at that location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were injured and later died, the Defence Ministry statement said. Two others were arrested, and armoured vehicles, rocket launchers, and other weapons were seized. Three members of the armed forces were injured and are undergoing treatment.
The killing of the powerful drug lord led to roadblocks for several hours with vehicles being burnt in Jalisco and other states. Cartels commonly use such tactics to thwart military operations.
A member of the prosecutor’s office stands guard near a burning bus set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target on one of the main routes in Zapopan, Mexico, on February 22, 2026.
In response to the clashes, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro activated “Code Red,” a protocol for a state of emergency or security crisis. In a post on Twitter, he said public transportation has been suspended throughout Jalisco and urged people in the region to stay in their homes until the situation is under control.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on social media Acknowledged the disruptions but insisted, “In the vast majority of the national territory, activities are proceeding entirely as normal.”
Videos circulating on social media showed clouds of smoke billowing over the city of Puerto Vallarta, a major city in Jalisco, and panic circling at the state capital’s airport.
“They’re burning buses, they’re blocking roads, not only in Jalisco, but also in Michoacán, Colima, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Aguas Calientes,” Vigil said. “They aim to demonstrate their continued strength and resilience, demonstrating that this incident did not devastate them,” Vigil said.
Burning vehicles blocked roads in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and Mexico’s second-largest city, which is scheduled to host World Cup matches this summer.
Sources on the ground and family members in the city told CBS News’ Nidia Cavazos that a similar situation unfolded at the airport in the Mexican border city of Reynosa in Tamaulipas state. He said that cartel members have blocked the roads leading to the airport. Reynosa, which borders McAllen, Texas, typically hosts a high volume of American travellers. Major access roads to the international bridges remained blocked, despite the bridges remaining open.
The US State Department has issued a security alert to give advice to US citizens in several Mexican states, including Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. They will be sheltered in place until further notice.
Air Canada temporarily suspended operations at Puerto Vallarta Airport due to what it described as “the ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta” affecting the airport.
“We are monitoring the situation and are in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue,” the airline said. Said.
On February 22, 2026, a man extinguishes a burning truck set ablaze by organised crime groups in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
Southwest and Alaska Airlines confirmed they had cancelled flights to and from Puerto Vallarta on Sunday, while Delta Airlines issued travel waivers to customers with flights in and out of the airport in Puerto Vallarta as well as Guadalajara.
“The safety of our customers and crew always comes first and we are closely monitoring the situation in the area. We have taken steps to adjust our operations accordingly and are working to communicate with our affected customers,” Delta said in a statement.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is one of the most powerful and fastest-growing criminal organisations in Mexico. Oseguera Cervantes, 59, is originally from Aguila, in the neighbouring state of Michoacán. He has been significantly involved in drug trafficking activities since the 1990s. He helped co-found the Jalisco New Generation Cartel with Eric Valencia Salazar, alias “El 85”, around 2007.
The Justice Department took Valencia Salazar, one of the 29 wanted cartel leaders, into US custody last February.
The Jalisco cartel has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military – including using helicopters – and is a leader in launching explosives from drones and planting mines. In 2020, a spectacular assassination attempt with grenades and high-powered rifles was carried out in the center of Mexico City against the then head of the capital’s police force and now federal security secretary.
The DEA considers the cartel to be as powerful as the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most notorious criminal groups, with a presence in all 50 US states.
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has repeatedly convicted Oseguera Cervantes since 2017. The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho.
Jalisco wanted an American poster for “El Mencho,”, head of the New Generation Cartel.
In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization, saying, “In addition to fentanyl trafficking, the group also engages in extortion, migrant smuggling, oil, and mineral theft, as well as arms trade.”
Christian Benavides, Eleanor Watson, Emily Mae Czachor,
