Air France robbery
| Industry | Air cargo transport and handling |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
The Air France heist took place in April 1967 when members associated with the Lucchese crime family made off with $420,000 ($ in ) from the Air France cargo facility at JFK International Airport, New York City. While thefts from cargo were frequent at JFK during that period, this incident represented the largest cash robbery recorded up to that time. The operation was carried out by Henry Hill, Robert McMahon, Tommy DeSimone, and Montague Montemurro, acting on intelligence provided by McMahon. Hill later acknowledged that this robbery significantly enhanced his standing within the Mafia.
Planning
Air France handled the transport of American currency exchanged in Southeast Asia, under contract to return these funds to banks in the United States. Shipments typically arrived in linen sacks containing $60,000 each, with weekly totals sometimes reaching $1 million. These funds were stored within a cement-block vault, which was guarded around the clock by a private security officer.
Robert McMahon, an insider on Air France’s cargo team, informed Henry Hill that flights regularly delivered three or four bags each containing $60,000. He suggested that a small armed group could easily seize the cash but warned that unpredictable timing made a direct heist too risky. Instead, Hill decided to obtain the security guard’s key to gain access without raising alarm. Surveillance revealed that the guard was the primary hurdle since he always carried the key on his person.
A critical breakthrough occurred after breaking into the guard’s residence, which exposed a potential weakness involving women. McMahon arranged for the guard to meet an upscale escort at The Jade East Motel near JFK Airport. Over time, their developing relationship allowed McMahon and the escort to divert the guard’s attention long enough for Hill to steal and duplicate the key.
Execution
McMahon received information indicating that between $400,000 and $700,000 would be arriving on Friday, April 7, 1967. He recommended carrying out the robbery just before midnight during the security guard's dinner break.
On the night of the robbery, Hill and Tommy DeSimone drove to the Air France cargo terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport carrying an empty suitcase—the largest available. At 11:40 p.m., they entered an unsecured area of the terminal without opposition, using a copied key to unlock a door. Using a flashlight, they located seven bags filled with cash, placed them into the suitcase, and exited without triggering any alarms or disturbances. The theft was only discovered on Monday when a Wells Fargo armored truck arrived to collect the money for transfer to the French American Banking Corporation.
Portrayal in film
This robbery was dramatized in Henri Verneuil's 1969 film Le clan des siciliens and prominently featured in Martin Scorsese's 1990 movie Goodfellas. In Goodfellas, it is shown as an inside job where a security guard hands Henry Hill a key and is connected narratively to the more profitable 1978 Lufthansa heist, highlighting subsequent violent consequences among those involved in both crimes.