--- title: "Mexican Light Attack Plane Strafes Cartel Forces After Arrest Of El Chapo’s Son (Updated)" description: "A video has emerged that reportedly shows an armed Mexican military light single-engine turboprop aircraft conducting a strafing run against elements of [the Sinaloa Cartel]() in the city of Culiacán earlier today. In other footage, members of the cartel appear…" date: "2023-01-05" modified: "2023-01-05" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/mexican-light-attack-plane-strafes-cartel-forces-after-arrest-of-el-chapos-son" categories: - "Americas" - "Around The Globe" - "Law Enforcement" - "News & Features" --- # Mexican Light Attack Plane Strafes Cartel Forces After Arrest Of El Chapo’s Son (Updated) ![]() *Captures via Twitter* A video has emerged that reportedly shows an armed Mexican military light single-engine turboprop aircraft conducting a strafing run against elements of [the Sinaloa Cartel]() in the city of Culiacán earlier today. In other footage, members of the cartel appear to be seen firing [Barrett .50 caliber anti-materiel rifles]() and other small arms at unseen aircraft. https://twitter.com/maeroespacial/status/1611078093850185730 https://twitter.com/eds\_manifesto/status/1611066772580622336 Culiacán has been turned into a war zone [following a pre-dawn Mexican government raid]() that led to the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López, one of the sons of former Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is now alleged to be a top leader in the organization. El Chapo is currently imprisoned in the United States. Ovidio has reportedly already been taken to Mexico City, which is situated some 650 miles southwest of Culiacán. At the time of writing, fighting between government and cartel forces appears to be continuing. https://twitter.com/ioangrillo/status/1611090242035134464?s=20&t=fycZ42Ok9DmIYj1pdpcwyA It's not immediately clear from the video clip what type of aircraft carried out the apparent strike, but it would appear to be either a [Beechcraft T-6C+ Texan II]() or a [Pilatus PC-7](). The Mexican Navy, at least, [reportedly acquired]() FN Herstal [HMP250 gun pods](), each containing a single .50 caliber M3P machine gun, for use with its T-6C+s. The country's Air Force also flies T-6C+s, as well as similar-sized PC-9s and PC-7s, the latter of which can also carry HMP250s or unguided rocket pods. Mexican T-6C+s and PC-7s are both ostensibly trainers, but can also be employed in various other roles, including as light attack and surveillance platforms. ![]() *A Mexican Air Force T-6C+ Texan II. *André Du-pont (Mexico Air Spotters) via Wikimedia** ![]() *A Mexican Air Force PC-7 with HMP250 gun pods and rocket pods. *Bundesheer Fotos via Wikimedia** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiY\_46FpapA The use of Mexican military aircraft to attack cartel forces is not new, but such operations have been more [typically carried out using helicopters]() in the past. Another video clip has also emerged showing what could be a Mexican military helicopter firing a machine gun at cartel forces on the ground in Culiacán. https://twitter.com/PopularFront\_/status/1611045974419308557 ***The video below, which is similar to the one reportedly taken today in Culiacán, shows a Mexican Navy helicopter firing on a car carrying Juan Francisco Patrón Sánchez, also known as “El H2,” a top leader in the Beltrán-Leyva Organization cartel, in 2017.*** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUZL7nqmYU&feature=emb\_logo Any kind of airstrike in a dense urban environment runs the risk of causing collateral damage. However, strafing runs would allow for more focused fire on smaller targets compared to unguided rockets. Online flight tracking software has indicated that Mexican military surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, including a Mexican Navy [CN-235 Persuader maritime surveillance plane]() and a specially configured Mexican Air Force Beechcraft King Air, [have been orbiting over the city]() today, as well. This would make good sense both for supporting the initial raid and monitoring subsequent movements by cartel forces. https://twitter.com/GDarkconrad/status/1611041135190761472?s=20&t=TTVp7BtZ7RiVnUjYeFVVsA It's not clear whether cartel members were able to score any hits on any government aircraft flying overhead. An Aeromexico Embraer ERJ-190LR airliner, with crew and passengers aboard, was hit by gunfire during its takeoff run at Bachigualato Federal International Airport in Culiacán. A statement from Aeromexico [said no one was injured](). https://twitter.com/JacdecNew/status/1611087615289090052 https://twitter.com/VanYulier/status/1611096421503062026 https://twitter.com/IvanRodriguezV/status/1611093531229130752?s=20&t=m4fy\_QGuZzSrPz7ev3CFdw There is a possibility that the gunfire at the airport could have been an attempt to prevent the transfer of Ovidio to Mexico City. Two Mexican Air Force Boeing 737 passenger aircraft were tracked online flying to Culiacán after this morning's raid, at least one of which was subsequently spotted on the ground. Those aircraft departed shortly after arriving [and then headed southwest](). https://twitter.com/RuidoEnLaRed/status/1611043807230820354 https://twitter.com/Diariodenarco/status/1611046487693082624?s=20&t=2mZYedY93voJlTpnBdO0wA On the ground, Mexican government security forces have been fighting cartel members – including some who appear to be wearing Mexican military and National Guard uniforms – armed with various rifles and machine guns. This includes more Barrett rifles and even .50 caliber M2 heavy machine guns mounted on improvised armored trucks. The Sinaloa Cartel has been using those vehicles, sometimes referred to as "Narco Tanks," which you can read more about [here](), along with various pickup trucks and SUVs to move personnel around the city and to set up roadblocks. https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1611053281320570893?s=20&t=MA\_CgLzfb6zJxpGR5GmHAg https://twitter.com/war\_noir/status/1611083406904811539 The Sinaloa Cartel's forces heavily employed Narco Tanks and .50 caliber Barrett rifles, among other weapons during fighting in 2019 in Culiacán [after a previous attempt]() to detain Ovidio, along with another one of his brothers, Joaquín Guzmán López. That operation triggered a similar running gun battle. With the fighting showing no signs of slowing, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had ordered the release of both men, saying it was necessary to "protect the lives of the citizenry." For decades now, Sinaloa and other Mexican drug cartels have been significantly expanding their arsenals and other capabilities. Among other things, some cartels have [been using small commercial drones]() loaded [with improvised explosive payloads]() to carry out attacks. In many cases, these organized criminal organizations have become almost like small military forces, as can be seen in the video below showing members of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), or Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK23lJl25s0&feature=emb\_logo Obrador, more commonly known in Mexico and elsewhere by the nickname 'AMLO,' has been president since December 2018. He won his initial election after running on a populist platform that included a pledge to tackle drug cartels through "abrazos, no balazos," or "[hugs, not bullets]()." Today's apparently successful arrest of Ovidio comes as Obrador is set to [meet U.S. President Joe Biden]() next week. Border security and counter-drug efforts are all but certain to be major topics of discussion between the two leaders, [among other things](). In the meantime, it remains to be seen how the situation in Culiacán will continue to evolve and whether more Mexican military aircraft will end taking part in the fighting. ***Updated 5:55 P.M. EST:*** There is now an unconfirmed report that members of the Sinaloa Cartel forces were able to force a Mexican Air Force C-295 light cargo aircraft to make an emergency landing in Culiacán after shooting at it. It is unclear what damage the aircraft may have actually sustained, but a video circulating on social media shows an airport crash truck spraying it with water. https://twitter.com/ConflictsW/status/1611133568557715457?s=20&t=SQ-Gwa4eq99J4VXCCd5C8w **Contact the author: [joe@thedrive.com]()** ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()