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Video: Two dead after shooting at Santiago de Chile Airport in foiled attempt to steal $32 million

At least 12 criminals intended to assault a plane from Miami that was carrying more than 26,000 million Chilean pesos, equivalent to more than 32 million dollars

Crimen
Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benítez, en Chile | EFE

March 10, 2023 9:03am

Updated: March 10, 2023 9:03am

Two people died this Wednesday, after a crew of armed thieves unleashed gunfire in the terminal of Chile's Santiago based international airport.

One of the victims was an official from the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), and the other was one of the purported would be hijackers, both of whom were killed amid gunfire.

The accused were planning to raid a LATAM Airlines plane that arrived from Miami, and containing remittances worth more than 32 million U.S. dollars, according to Chilean police. 

The assailants entered the taxiways of the air terminal, assaulted and stole a firearm from a DGAC security officer who was quickly killed with his own weapon.

Other police however, quickly responded and were able to detain the accused robbers.  

In several videos circulating social media networks, the shots that ended the life of the DGAC official are heard. In another, the lifeless body of one of the criminals is shown under the wing of an airplane.

"I want to express my solidarity and send a big hug to the family of the DGAC official," said Chilean President Gabriel Boric who said the government would prosecuted the accused "tirelessly with justice and all force of the law."