KLM said on Friday it had become a victim of "jumbo jacking" after gunmen robbed a cargo plane at Johannesburg Airport.
Police exchanged fire with the robbers during Thursday's raid, but the gunmen escaped. South African media said they had stolen gold and diamonds.
With a major car jacking problem where drivers are robbed of their possessions, the South African city is not the safest place on earth but the robbery took crime to a new level.
"The group of armed men struck while freight was being unloaded on the ramp," KLM said in a statement.
"The police intervened and shots were exchanged, but neither passengers nor flight and ground personnel sustained any injuries. The gunmen escaped in the ensuing chaos," it said.
KLM, now part of Air France, said in a statement the robbery had targeted its flight KL591, but declined to say what was stolen from the Boeing 747-400 Combi.
The airline said it was reviewing procedures for the shipment of valuables to Johannesburg.
