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Home » News » Bandits Ambush 787-9 In Airport Cash Heist, Two Dead
LATAMNews

Bandits Ambush 787-9 In Airport Cash Heist, Two Dead

Matthew Klint Posted onMarch 9, 2023November 13, 2023 7 Comments

a large white airplane on a runway

Two people are dead after bandits ambushed a LATAM Boeing 787-9 aircraft in Santiago, Chile after they caught wind there was over $32 million of cash onboard.

Two Dead After Armed Bandits Interdict 787-9 In Santiago Carrying $32.5MN In Cash

On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, a LATAM Boeing 787-9 landed in Santiago (SCL) after a flight from Miami (MIA). The Dreamliner was carrying $32.5 million in cash, which was intended to be picked up by an armored car and transported to area banks.

But bandits caught wind of the cargo onboard and a 10-member “greeting party” met the aircraft. Somehow, these men were able to slip onto the apron at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport with a cache of arms.

All hell broke loose during the attempted heist, with gunfire exchanged between the robbers and the airport security. In the process, the plot failed but two perished, including an airport security officer and one of the robbers.

TREMENDO! INTENTO DE ASALTO, TIROS Y DOS FALLECIDOS EN LA PLATAFORMA DEL AEROPUERTO DE SANTIAGO DE CHILE. Toda la info acá https://t.co/ZOyGU4N7YB @rominawinner@jorgelvelazquez @Enel_Aire @perfilcom @VadeAviones @MundoAeropuerto @Ambitocom @embonh @AviacionITF citar fuente 🙏 pic.twitter.com/35LPuZslIK

— Diego Dominelli (@diego_domi) March 8, 2023

A Delta Airbus A350-900, registration N574DZ, was parked next to the LATAM 787-9 and was riddled with bullets, but a close inspection revealed the plane was airworthy and it departed for Atlanta (ATL) operating as DL146 last night at 11:10 pm.

Mas del tiroteo en el aeropuerto de Santiago de Chile en plena plataforma. Este @Airbus 350 @Delta tiene impactos de balas. Abro hilo 👇 pic.twitter.com/aekVctPqz4

— Diego Dominelli (@diego_domi) March 8, 2023

A government statement confirmed the death of one security official and praised the security staff for repelling the attack:

“The actions of the officials at our institution managed to prevent this criminal act but unfortunately, with the high cost of the life of one our own.

“The DGAC has reinforced the security mechanisms and had provided our aviation security officials with equipment and training which made it possible to repel this robbery attempt.”

Meanwhile, the other nine bandits fled, burned their vehicles in a nearby neighborhood, and remain at large.

CONCLUSION

A LATAM 787-9 came under fire in Santiago, Chile as bandits attempted to steal $32.5 million of cash onboard. What a horrific incident that seems more like a Hollywood movie than reality. But the reality is that even though the heist ultimately failed, one airport security officer is dead. That is tragic news.


(image: Adam Moreira // H/T: PYOK)

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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7 Comments

  1. AP Reply
    March 9, 2023 at 8:55 am

    “The money was stolen” but “the heist ultimately failed.” Huh?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      March 9, 2023 at 9:07 am

      Money was not stolen. Sorry that was not clear.

  2. Jared Houser Reply
    March 9, 2023 at 3:05 pm

    Matthew I’m assuming you’ve been to many of the big South American cities? Rio, Santiago, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima, etc.

    I’ve never been and have been wanting to, but it’s things like this that make me question if it is really safe down there or not. What’s your opinion on that?

    • Jerry Reply
      March 9, 2023 at 4:46 pm

      So far this month there have been 13 mass shootings in the United States. Santiago is considerably safer than most American cities.

      • Jared Houser Reply
        March 10, 2023 at 1:58 am

        Jerry, don’t try to claim Santiago is more safe than the United States. This type of thing would never happen in the United States.

        • Ricardo Reply
          March 10, 2023 at 8:24 am

          United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Global Study on Homicide 2019.
          Murder Rate Chile: 4,40
          Murder Rate US: 4,96
          Yes, I think Chile is safest…

    • PM Reply
      March 9, 2023 at 9:04 pm

      I am writing this from Buenos Aires, I feel perfectly safe walking around the central bits of the city any time of day or night. Similarly, the nicer neighbourhoods of Sao Paulo are perfectly safe and it’s only out of an abundance of caution that I will take a taxi after midnight.

      Venezuela is the only country in South America which is properly dangerous, everywhere else you just need to apply some common sense and you will be fine.

      (Having said that, the political instability in Peru means that it may not be a good time to visit right now – but that isn’t so much a crime issue)

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