On Wednesday, March 7, a daring attempt by gunmen to steal more than $32 million in cash that had just arrived in Chile on a flight from Miami resulted in two fatalities after a gunfight.
One of the alleged robbers and an airport security officer were killed, according to Chilean police.
The attempted caper was carried out by ten fully armed gunmen. They got past all of the airport’s security measures and onto the runway, where a Latam Airlines plane carrying $32.2 million in cash had just landed at Arturo Benitez International Airport.
According to Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve, airport workers were transferring a lot of cash to an armored truck.
The money was guarded by security agents, but the would-be robbers were not discouraged. They opened fire, resulting in a gunfight with security personnel. Gunfire killed a security officer for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC). One of the criminals was also killed during the gunfight.
After realizing they couldn’t get their hands on the money, the assailants fled the airport. Police later discovered two burned cars near the airport.
According to Monsalve, the DGAC officials’ quick action foiled the robbers’ plans. He also reported that the attackers were well-armed and well-organized.
In the aftermath, social media videos show another plane, riddled with bullet holes, parked next to the Latam plane. Another video shows a scene from the shootout, with gunshots in the background.
The DGAC chief, Raul Jorquera, stated that passengers were not in danger because the robbers were only interested in the cash.
The heist was aimed at the $32.2 million that was supposed to be distributed across the country to various banks.
According to Jorquera, the attempted burglary would force them to revise and improve their security protocols and processes.
It wasn’t the first time robbers had targeted an airport. Thieves successfully stole $15 million from an airport warehouse in 2020. Robbers stole $10 million in a similar heist in 2014.