Nearly eight years after the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Puebla’s Governor Martha Erika Alonso and Senator Rafael Moreno Valle, new conspiracy theories have once again emerged on social media, casting doubt on the official cause of the accident.

The controversy reignited after a user on X, @MarkDeReborn11, claimed that Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada had “detailed” who was behind the alleged attack, stating that one of the culprits “is already dead” and the other “is in Palenque.” However, there is no evidence supporting this claim. No official records, judicial hearings, interviews, or statements confirm that “El Mayo” Zambada made such declarations.

This post sparked reminders of past controversial statements related to the case. For example, José Juan Espinosa Torres, former mayor of San Pedro Cholula, once said that then-Governor Miguel Barbosa Huerta reacted to the deaths by saying, “We already screwed them.” Barbosa denied these accusations at the time, and no investigation ever substantiated the claim.

Another episode resurfaced from a few months ago when Senator Ricardo Monreal publicly mentioned knowing “a former governor who ordered a murder,” without naming anyone. His words provoked a strong response from Rosario Orozco Caballero, widow of Miguel Barbosa, who demanded clarification. Monreal did not provide evidence or directly link his statement to the helicopter crash.

The crash itself occurred on December 24, 2018, in Coronango, Puebla. Alongside Martha Erika Alonso and Rafael Moreno Valle, three crew members also lost their lives.

The official investigation, conducted by Mexican authorities with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), concluded that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure in the helicopter’s control system due to maintenance deficiencies. No evidence of sabotage or an attack was found.

Despite this, conspiracy theories about a possible assassination continue to resurface periodically on social media. To date, no authority has presented new evidence contradicting the official findings.

For communities in Puebla and beyond, these recurring rumors highlight the ongoing challenges of trust and transparency in political tragedies. Meanwhile, infrastructure projects like the upcoming cablebús in Puebla offer a glimpse of progress and connectivity, reflecting a forward-looking vision for the region’s future.