On May 1, 2015, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) accomplished the extraordinary feat of downing a Mexican Army helicopter amid a significant operation aimed at capturing its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, popularly known as 'El Mencho'. This operation, dubbed "Operación Jalisco," involved coordinated efforts from multiple national security agencies including the Secretariats of National Defense and Navy, Federal Police, Attorney General's Office (PGR), and the National Intelligence and Security Center (Cisen). The target of this operation was to arrest El Mencho, a notorious figure within Mexico's organized crime landscape.

However, the cartel was not caught off guard by the offensive, indicating their advanced intelligence capabilities. Prior to the military’s incursion, CJNG operatives received warnings and were able to mount a robust defense to safeguard their leader. The confrontation occurred in the vicinity of Casimiro Castillo and Villa Purificación in southern Jalisco, where armed members of the cartel preemptively prepared for the military's aerial approach. When a Cougar model military helicopter with registration number 1009 surveyed the area, cartel gunmen launched an assault using rocket-propelled grenades, successfully hitting the aircraft.

This event not only underscores the operational might of the CJNG but also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Mexican authorities in combating organized crime. The downing of the military helicopter is a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict between the Mexican state and powerful drug cartels, raising questions about the effectiveness of security strategies deployed by the government and the serious risks posed to security forces in these high-stakes confrontations. Such incidents exacerbate concerns regarding public safety and escalate the violence in regions already plagued by cartel warfare, showcasing the persistent state of instability in Mexico's security environment.