Battle of Paitilla Airport
| Battle of Paitilla Airport | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the United States invasion of Panama and Operation Nifty Package | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| United States | Panama | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Cmdr. Tom McGrath Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Toohey | 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.