Date: 201906
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: MMGL.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
ATC / advisory: TRACON MMGL
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Check Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Detector: Automation Aircraft Terrain Warning; Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: While flying the arrival into MMGL; ATC said we were number 7 for the app. ATC vectored off the arrival for spacing on the app. They gave us a heading and a descent to 7;000. I responded with the heading and 7;000. I thought the altitude seemed low for the terrain in the area; but he still had time to turn us in on the app and be clear of the terrain. We got to 7;900 MSL and ATC asked if we were maintaining 9;000 and asked if we were VMC which we were. It seemed as if he almost forgot about us due to him being very busy. We immediately climbed to 9;000 feet. and were then given a heading to intercept the localizer 28. Once on the app the plane started a descent before reaching top of descent which lead to us getting low again and receiving a terrain aural message in which we took the autopilot off a climbed back up. I believe the language barrier with ATC and him been busy lead to him giving us a clearance that wasn't ideal do to the terrain in the area. I should have been more proactive in questioning his instructions as I thought the alt was low for the area.


Second narrative: While flying the arrival into MMGL ATC SAID we were number 7 for the APP. ATC vectored off the STAR for spacing on the APP. They gave us a heading and a decent to 7;000. I responded with the heading and 7;000. I thought the altitude seemed LOW for the terrain; but he still had time to turn us on the APP and be cleared of the terrain. We got to 7;900 MSL and ATC asked if we were maintaining 9;000; and asked if we were in VMC which we were; but we never said we were on VMC or accepted any clearance to maintain visual conditions. We immediately climbed to 9000 feet; and them given a heading to intercept the localizer 28. Once on the APP; the plane started a descent before reaching top of descend which lead to us getting low again. and receiving a terrain aural message in which we took the autopilot off and climbed back up I believe the language barrier with ATC and him being busy since we were number 7 in the approach; lead to him given us a clearance that wasn't ideal to the terrain in the area. I should have been more proactive and question him his instructions since we had the terrain in sight. We both as crew realized that the altitude was not the best to safely fly the approach.


Synopsis: Air Carrier flight crew reported language barrier issue with ATC caused altitude assignment too low for terrain during approach to MMGL.