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Ismael Zambada García feared for his life during a private jet flight to the United States after being betrayed by Joaquín Guzmán López.

Ismael Zambada García, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, experienced a moment of terror during a July 2024 flight to the United States. According to his lawyer, Frank Pérez, Zambada García believed he would be thrown from the plane mid-flight during the kidnapping operation orchestrated by Joaquín Guzmán López. Joaquín Guzmán López, known as "Chapito," lured Zambada García to a meeting under false pretenses to secure a legal negotiation with U.S. authorities. The flight landed near El Paso, Texas, where both men were surrendered to U.S. federal agents. While Zambada García was initially treated as a civil stranger to the plot, the pilot, Mauro Alberto Núñez Ojeda, was revealed to be a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel's aerial force. The administration of Mexico has addressed the situation, with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo noting that the General Prosecutor will determine the legal responsibilities regarding the pilot's role in the betrayal.

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