America’s leading carrier, Delta Air Lines (DL) A350 vertical fin, was hit by bullets following criminal activity at the Chile airport.
The footage shared by a Twitter blogger shows bullet holes in a Delta plane parked next to the targeted LATAM aircraft. But officials said no passengers were at stake.
The authority stated that two people had been killed in the capital of Chile. They were attempting to rob $32 million from the consignment onboard the plane from Hawaii.
A security officer and robber were shot dead in a fight as 10 heavily armed thieves detoured security measures to reach the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport runway.
Money Heist in Chile
The robbers were behind the cash in the cargo compartment of LATAM airline’s plane. According to Manuel Monsalve, interior sub-secretary said, they tried to steal $32.5m (£27.4m), which was getting transferred via an armoured truck, Reported by news sky.
Following this, security officers in charge of the consignment fired the robbers. But both of them were shot dead, and some thieves flew from the spot. Later, police found the two burned vehicles nearby the area.
Monsalve said, “The brave action by the DGAC officials frustrated the robbery.”
He further stated that the alleged attackers were “highly organised” and “very armed”.
The footage shared by Twitter users shows due to this incident, bullets damaged the plane. Airbus A350 of Delta Air Lines and LATAM aircraft are penetrated with bullets.
Delta #A350 MSN365 vertical tail damaged with several bullet impacts, after an intense exchange of gunfire between criminals & security personnel. 2 dead.
It was an attempted robbery of 💵 being transported on the Latam B787 parked next to the #A350. Santiago 🇨🇱
via @diego_domi pic.twitter.com/RwGvl7Uwik
— A350Blog (@A350Blog) March 8, 2023
The DGAC chief Raul Jorquera assured everyone that the passengers were safe and no harm has been caused to them.
Mr Jorquera further added the risked heist “will certainly lead us to modify processes, protocols that must be enhanced… it compels us to reconsider many things”.
The cash in the form of shipment is for the several banks in the South American country. It will be transferred to them via a heavily armoured truck with security guards.
This is not the first time such a shoot and heist has occurred at the airport. Early in 2020, burglars stole around $15m (£12.6m) from a repository in the airport – six years after a similar $10m (£8.4m) theft.
Also, read: INCIDENT Thai Airways Airbus A350 narrowly escapes a burning tug – AIRLIVE.