La Aurora Airport Plane Crash April 27, 1977 - (...) -The Intense Magnetic Storm of December 19, 1980

The aircraft, a Convair 240, took off from La Aurora International Airport (GUA/MGGT) in Guatemala City, as scheduled. During the initial climb to cruise altitude the number one engine suffered a failure due to oil exhaustion. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and was forced to attempt an emergency landing in rough terrain. The plane was destroyed in the attempt, killing all 22 passengers and six crew on board.

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

December 19, 1980 Red Aurora

Although all data from far-flung stations are not yet available, it is possible to piece together a description of the unusual auroral display of December 19, 1980 using reports from those who saw the display and instrumental data acquired at Fairbanks and Fort Yukon, Alaska. Aside from the rarity of the blood-red auroras, this display is of special interest because it induced very large currents in the electrical transmission line between Nenana and Fairbanks between 5:00 am and 7:00 am on the morning of December 19th 1980

[link to www2.gi.alaska.edu]