San José el Pinal Airport

While no single official reason has been published, the closure is attributed to a combination of factors. The primary reasons are believed to be economic decline and a federal security strategy. The airport likely became economically unviable as local mining operations decreased and ground transportation improved. Concurrently, its location within the Sierra Madre Occidental, a region known for drug cartel activity, made it a liability. The Mexican government, as part of a broader security initiative, systematically closed or disabled many remote airstrips in the area to prevent their use for illicit trafficking.

The airport is completely abandoned and in a state of dereliction. Satellite imagery confirms that the former dirt runway is now heavily overgrown with grass and shrubs, making it completely unusable for any type of aircraft. There are no remaining buildings or facilities on the site. The land has not been repurposed and is slowly reverting to the surrounding natural landscape.

San José el Pinal Airport served as a critical infrastructure asset for the isolated mining community of Uruachi. Located in the rugged Sierra Tarahumara mountains, the airstrip provided an essential connection to the outside world where road access was difficult and time-consuming. Its operations consisted mainly of general aviation, supporting local mining companies by transporting personnel, high-value equipment, and supplies. It also facilitated medical evacuations, government travel, and private charter flights, primarily utilizing light, short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) aircraft capable of operating from a short, high-altitude, unpaved runway.

There are no known plans, discussions, or prospects for the reopening of San José el Pinal Airport. The significant financial investment required to restore the runway and facilities, coupled with a lack of current economic demand and ongoing security concerns in the region, make its reactivation highly unlikely. The airport is considered permanently closed.