Mexico: 29 Dead During Operation To Catch El Chapo’s Son, Passenger Plane Caught in Crossfire Against Sinaloa Cartel

The arrest of El Chapo's son and Sinaloa Cartel boss Ovidio Guzman was a big win for Mexico, but it came at a cost. Immediately after he was arrested, cartel gunmen invaded the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa, set up roadblocks in a bid to free him, and engaged authorities. This resulted in the deaths of 29 people.

After his arrest, Ovidio Guzman was flown to Mexico City, but his transfer still resulted in a fierce firefight that saw much carnage, death, and property damage.

According to the BBC, of the 29 deaths, no civilian was listed and 10 of those deaths were Mexican soldiers. Meanwhile, the attack also resulted in the deaths of 19 suspected Sinaloa Cartel members.

Mexican Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval also confirmed that 35 military personnel were injured in the attack, but they also managed to arrest 21 cartel members,

Members of the Sinaloa Cartel also set fire to dozens of vehicles in an attempt to prevent Ovidio Guzman from being transported outside of Sinaloa. They also attacked the city's local airport and shot at planes. However, the arrested Sinaloa Cartel boss had already been transported via helicopter and was subsequently been sent to a Mexican maximum-security prison.

Aeromexico Passengers Threw Themselves Into the Floor as Cartel Gunmen Shot Up the Airport

The cartel attack on an airport in Culiacan was a harrowing experience for passengers aboard an Aeromexico flight as viral videos shared on social media have shown passengers scrambling to the floor and taking cover as gunfire rang out.

The attack on the airport was part of the Sinaloa Cartel's bid to free their leader, Ovidio Guzman, from the clutches of Mexican authorities. The cartel members reportedly started firing after a military plane landed at the airport.

"As we were accelerating for take-off, we heard gunshots very close to the plane, and that's when we all threw ourselves to the floor," David Tellez, a passenger on that flight, told Reuters.

He added that he and his family hid in the airport bathroom when they heard that cartel members were already at the airport. However, when they heard that the coast was clear, nervous security guards ushered them into the plane.

Nobody was hurt on the flight, but the plane did sustain some damage so it was not able to fly out. Their flight was canceled as the engine was hit and it triggered a leak. Passengers were then immediately instructed to disembark, though Tellez says he and his family will still try to leave Culiacan.

El Chapo Son's Extradition to the U.S. Halted for Now

The United States is also seeking the younger Guzman and has asked for his extradition. However, a federal judge in Mexico City halted Ovidio's extradition just a day after he was arrested.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed the U.S. arrest warrant but stated that the drug lord's possible extradition might not be immediate because of formalities of the law, as the younger Guzman still has legal proceedings to go through in Mexico.

According to CNN, a Mexican judge also suspended a measure that prevented Ovidio from not only talking to his family but also contacting his legal team, the latter of which now only has three days to decide if they should ratify the measures they have filed in favor of their client.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Ovidio Guzman, son of 'El Chapo,' arrives in Mexico City after being captured in Culiacan - KSAT 12