A U.S. military transport aircraft landing at a civilian airport sparked a national debate about sovereignty and bilateral security protocols.
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Tuesday that Mexico will use its own aircraft to transport personnel for training in the United States, ending a practice that allowed U.S. military planes to land in Mexico for pickup operations.
The policy shift follows widespread criticism after a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules landed at Toluca International Airport on Jan. 18. The aircraft arrived from Texas to transport Mexican security personnel for training exercises under bilateral cooperation agreements.
“We’ve decided that when it involves training, it’s better for a Mexican aircraft to go to the United States to drop off those who are being trained, rather than having a U.S. aircraft come pick them up,” Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference.
The Hercules landing coincided with Federal Aviation Administration warnings about military activities in the Eastern Pacific, creating heightened sensitivity about U.S. military operations near Mexico. The timing amplified concerns following the Trump administration’s recent military action to capture Venezuela’s then-president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the National Security Council authorized the Toluca landing and that such training flights are part of standard bilateral security cooperation. She rejected claims the landing violated any laws, noting that Senate authorization is only required when foreign troops enter Mexico for operations — not for transport crews.
“The Senate approves when troops or trainers come to Mexico to train,” she explained. “In this case, no troops came. It was the aircraft crew, they didn’t bring weapons.”
The president confirmed that similar U.S. military aircraft have landed in Mexico before, typically at military installations rather than civilian airports. The decision to use Toluca this time came from the National Security Council as a logistical determination.
Military cooperation between Mexico and the United States dates back decades through programs including the Mérida Initiative, which began in 2008 to combat drug trafficking and organized crime. The framework includes training exchanges, equipment transfers, and intelligence sharing under carefully negotiated protocols.
Critics questioned why the military transport used Toluca’s civilian airport rather than the nearby Santa Lucía Air Force Base. Images of the massive four-engine transport at a commercial facility raised questions about operational procedures and transparency in bilateral military arrangements.
The C-130J Super Hercules is one of the most versatile military transport aircraft in service. According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the plane handles everything from troop transport to humanitarian relief missions and is operated by 23 countries worldwide, including Mexico’s Air Force.
Mexico operates three older C-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the Air Squadron 302 at Santa Lucía base. The military announced in 2025 plans to purchase a new C-130J, which would make Mexico the first Latin American country to operate the advanced variant when delivered in 2028.
Opposition party Movimiento Ciudadano questioned the government’s handling of the incident, noting that the Senate had not authorized any U.S. military personnel entry. The party pointed out that a December 2025 request to approve Navy SEAL training in Campeche was postponed indefinitely without explanation.
The new protocol establishes stricter oversight of training operations. All international training must now receive approval from the National Security Council, and Mexican aircraft will handle all personnel transport to avoid future confusion about foreign military presence on Mexican soil.
The change reflects Mexico’s emphasis on sovereignty while maintaining security cooperation relationships. Both governments continue to state they will collaborate on combating cartels and fentanyl trafficking, with Mexico repeatedly stressing it will not accept violations of its sovereignty.
Security officials from both countries are scheduled to meet Friday to continue bilateral cooperation efforts focused on countering transnational criminal organizations and controlling illegal flows of drugs and weapons across the shared border.
Key Facts About the Toluca Aircraft Incident
- Aircraft: U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules (registration 08-5726)
- Flight origin: Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas
- Landing location: Toluca International Airport, State of Mexico
- Date: Jan. 18, 2026
- Purpose: Transport Mexican security personnel to U.S. for training
- Authorization: Mexican National Security Council approved the flight
- New policy: Mexico will use its own aircraft for future training transport
Sources: Diario de Yucatán, El Financiero, Milenio, El Imparcial, PBS News, NPR, Congressional Research Service