Three Mexican federal police officers were killed in a shootout with two other officers suspected of drug trafficking Monday at Mexico City's international airport.
Authorities say the slain officers were attempting to arrest the suspects when the shooting broke out in a busy food court, sending panicked travelers diving for cover. Two of the officers died at the scene, while the third died at a local hospital.
The suspects fled the scene and remain at large. Mexico's Public Security ministry says the two are believed to part of a large group of corrupt officials involved in cocaine trafficking.
More than 50,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006, when President Felipe Calderon ordered the Mexican army to rein in the country's violent drug cartels. But such violence has been rare inside the capital city's airport.