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- Two people died in a shootout during an attempted robbery at an airport in Chile Wednesday.
- A group of men tried to steal $32 million as it was transported from a plane to armored trucks.
- One alleged robber and one security officer were killed, and two of the vehicles used by the robbers have been destroyed.
An attempted heist was thwarted Wednesday at an airport in Chile after a group of about 10 men tried to steal millions of dollars that were being loaded into armored trucks.
The "highly armed" men allegedly entered Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in three different vehicles before shooting and killing an airport security officer as they tried to steal approximately $32.5 million, according to CNN Chile. The money was brought into the country from a LATAM Airlines plane arriving from Miami, and set to be transferred to several armed trucks and then taken to banks in the country, CBS News reported.
One of the robbers was also shot and killed in the robbery as a shootout ensured with security officials, per CNN. Two of the vehicles allegedly used in the attempted heist were later found destroyed on a nearby highway.
Video circulating on social media appears to have captured some of the shootout, including the sounds of several gunshots and the image of an armored truck seen driving in the background.
Manuel Monsalve, undersecretary of the Interior, said the "courageous actions" of the security officers — employees of of Chile's Directorate General of Civil Aviation — stopped the attackers from stealing millions, CNN Chile reported.
The incident marks the latest high-profile theft at Chile's largest airport, located in the nation's capital of Santiago, including a 2020 attack where robbers got away with about $15 million, according to the BBC.
DGAC chief Raul Jorquera said there was never any risk to passengers at the airport, adding the incident will likely lead them to change their policies and processes to avoid a similar incident, according to CBS News.
Karin Pozo/AFP via Getty Images
A LATAM spokesperson told Insider the airline "regrets the loss of life resulting from the attempted robbery," adding that it is "working in coordination with the corresponding authorities in order to support their investigations."
While some social media posts have claimed the gunfire resulted in damage to a nearby Delta Airlines plane, a Delta spokesperson told Insider Thursday that the plane was unharmed and returned to Atlanta, its scheduled destination, after several hours of inspection Wednesday night.
"Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those impacted by yesterday's sad events at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport," the spokesperson said. "Delta will work closely with all aviation stakeholders as these events are investigated. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and our people."