SANTIAGO, CHILE (AP) – An airport shootout in Chile’s capital killed a security officer and an alleged robber on Wednesday in what authorities said was an attempted heist of more than USD32 million in cash aboard a plane from Miami.
Around 10 heavily armed robbers were able to skirt security measures to reach the runway at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, where a Latam airlines aircraft had USD32.5 million in cash that was being transferred to an armoured truck, Interior Subsecretary Manuel Monsalve said.
There was a shootout between the would-be robbers and security officials that killed an employee of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) as well as an alleged assailant.
The other robbers fled. Two burned vehicles were later found nearby.
“The brave action by the DGAC officials frustrated the robbery,” Monsalve said, noting that the would-be robbers were “highly organised” and “very armed”.
Video posted on social media appeared to show bullet holes in a Delta plane that was parked next to the Latam aircraft that was targetted. Another video appears to show a moment in the shootout during which a lot of gunshots can be heard.
“There was no risk to passengers,” DGAC Chief Raúl Jorquera said.
The attempted heist targetted the USD32.5 million that were set to be transferred to an armoured truck to then be distributed to several banks in the South American country.
