Battle of Paitilla Airport

Battle of Paitilla Airport
Part of the United States invasion of Panama and Operation Nifty Package
Battle of Paitilla Airport is located in Panama
Paitilla Airport
Paitilla Airport
Battle of Paitilla Airport (Panama)
Date20 December 1989
Location
Paitilla Airport, Panama
8°58′59.9″N 79°30′37.0″W / 8.983306°N 79.510278°W / 8.983306; -79.510278
Result American victory
Belligerents
United States United States Panama Panama
Commanders and leaders
United States Cmdr. Tom McGrath
United States Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Toohey		 Panama Lt. Octavio Rodriguez
Units involved
SEAL Team 4 Panama Defense Forces
Strength
48 28-56
Casualties and losses
4 killed
9 wounded		 1 Learjet 35A private jet destroyed

The Battle of Paitilla Airport took place between members of the Panama Defense Forces and United States Navy SEALs, on 20 December 1989, in the opening hours of the United States invasion of Panama. The US force consisted of forty-eight members of SEAL Team 4 (Platoons Golf, Bravo, and Delta) under the command of Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Toohey. The team was tasked with destroying Manuel Noriega's private jet on the ground at the Punta Paitilla Airport, in Panama City.[1][2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Yates 2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Full text of "Soldiers in Panama: stories of Operation Just Cause"". archive.org. Retrieved 2015-12-31.