On December 31, 1997, about 0745 eastern standard time, a Britten-Norman Islander, HP986, operating under Panamanian flight regulations, crashed in a dense jungle area about 4 miles short of its destination Rio Sidra, in the northeast district of San Blas, Panama, and about 50 miles northeast of the capital. There were reports of heavy fog in the area, and flight plan information was not available. The airplane was destroyed. The pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured. Four of the passengers were United States citizens. The flight originated from Panama City, Panama, for a 35-minute flight at 0643.

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