Guayaquil Airport Says Flights Continue After Shooting Outside Terminal

A shooting outside Guayaquil's Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport created alarm on Wednesday night, but airport operations were not shut down.

The attack happened around 18:00 on June 17, 2026, outside the international airport, near the arrivals/taxi and parking area. One person was killed and another was injured.

Flight Operations

Airport officials said the terminal remained formally operational for all scheduled flights, both domestic and international.

Access in and out of the airport was temporarily restricted while police criminalistics units worked at the scene. Authorities said passengers who were already inside the building were safe and under security protection.

What Authorities Reported

Police reported that two adolescents were detained as suspected participants in the attack. Interior Minister John Reimberg said the person killed was Carlos Alberto Suastegui Villanueva, a 39-year-old Ecuadorian identified by authorities as a prioritized criminal target and alleged leader of Los Aguilas in El Triunfo, Guayas.

Reimberg later said Suastegui was able to enter and leave Ecuador because he did not have a current court order restricting his movement.

What This Means for Expats

If you are flying through Guayaquil, the practical issue is not whether the airport is open. It is access, security controls and timing around the terminal.

Until the situation fully normalizes, leave extra time for pickup, drop-off and ground transportation. If someone is meeting you, coordinate the exact arrival area by phone because access rules can change quickly after a police incident.