The 15 Greatest Prison Escapes That Shocked The World - History Collection

1. The Alcatraz Escape (1962, USA)

In June 1962, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin executed a meticulously planned escape from Alcatraz, the ‘inescapable’ island prison. Utilizing homemade tools, they widened ventilation ducts in their cells, creating an unguarded utility corridor. They crafted dummy heads from plaster, flesh-tone paint, and real human hair to deceive night guards. On the night of June 11, they ascended to the roof, launched a makeshift raft constructed from over 50 raincoats, and vanished into the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. Despite extensive searches, their fate remains unknown, sparking decades of speculation and inspiring numerous films and documentaries (fbi.gov).

2. The Escape from HM Prison Maze (1983, Northern Ireland)

On September 25, 1983, thirty-eight IRA prisoners orchestrated the largest prison break in UK history from HM Prison Maze, also known as Long Kesh. Over several months, they identified security weaknesses and smuggled in six handguns. At 2:30 pm, they seized control of H-Block 7 by overpowering guards with the smuggled weapons. After donning stolen uniforms, they hijacked a food delivery truck, using it to navigate through the prison’s gates. The escape exposed significant security flaws and intensified the political tensions of the era. More from BBC News.

3. Pascal Payet’s Helicopter Escapes (2001, 2003, 2007, France)

Pascal Payet, a French criminal, gained notoriety for orchestrating multiple helicopter-assisted prison escapes. In 2001, he escaped from Luynes prison using a hijacked helicopter. Two years later, while still at large, he facilitated the escape of fellow inmates from the same prison using the same method. In 2007, Payet escaped again, this time from Grasse prison, with the help of four accomplices and a hijacked helicopter. These audacious escapes forced authorities to reevaluate aerial security measures in French prisons (en.wikipedia.org).

4. The Texas Seven (2000, USA)

On December 13, 2000, seven inmates escaped from the John B. Connally Unit in Texas by overpowering civilian workers and prison employees. They stole uniforms, firearms, and a prison truck, initiating a nationwide manhunt. Their crime spree included robbing a Radio Shack and, on December 24, a sporting goods store in Irving, Texas, where they killed Officer Aubrey Hawkins. Six were captured over a month later; one committed suicide before arrest. This escape reshaped public perceptions about collective escapes and inspired television documentaries. Full details at Texas Monthly.

5. Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s Tunnel Escape (2015, Mexico)

In July 2015, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the notorious leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, escaped from Mexico’s maximum-security Altiplano prison. Authorities discovered a 50 cm by 50 cm hole in the floor of his shower area, leading to a tunnel approximately 1.5 kilometers long. The tunnel was equipped with lighting, ventilation, and a customized motorcycle on rails, facilitating rapid movement. It emerged in a construction site about a mile away from the prison. This sophisticated escape highlighted the extensive reach and influence of drug cartels ( CNN).

6. The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III (1944, Germany)

In March 1944, 76 Allied prisoners of war, primarily airmen, executed a daring escape from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III. Over 15 months, they dug three tunnels—codenamed ‘Tom,’ ‘Dick,’ and ‘Harry’—using improvised tools like spoons and bed boards. The escapees emerged through ‘Harry,’ a tunnel 350 feet long and 9 meters deep, leading to the forest beyond the camp. Despite meticulous planning, only three men reached freedom; the others were recaptured, and 50 were executed on Hitler’s orders. This audacious act of defiance became a symbol of resilience and was immortalized in the 1963 film ‘The Great Escape’ (raf.mod.uk).

7. The Libby Prison Escape (1864, USA, Civil War)

In February 1864, over 100 Union officers escaped from Richmond’s Libby Prison during the American Civil War. Led by Colonel Thomas E. Rose, they tunneled from the basement, known as “Rat Hell,” to a vacant lot outside the prison. The escapees emerged through a tobacco shed and walked out the front gate, exploiting the guards’ disbelief in the prison’s vulnerability. While many were recaptured, the event embarrassed Confederate forces and was widely celebrated in the North (nps.gov).

8. The Carandiru Escape (2001, Brazil)

In 2001, a riot and ensuing violence at São Paulo’s Carandiru Penitentiary enabled at least 100 prisoners to escape. The chaos drew global attention to Brazil’s prison issues and led to calls for reform. It was one of the most notorious prisons in South America at the time (bbc.com).

9. John Dillinger’s Alleged Wooden Gun (1934, USA)

In March 1934, notorious gangster John Dillinger escaped from the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana, using a pistol he had carved from a block of wood. He painted the fake gun black with shoe polish to make it appear real. Dillinger used the wooden pistol to round up several guards before obtaining a real Thompson submachine gun. He then stole the sheriff’s car and fled to Chicago. This daring escape became legendary, though some debate the authenticity of the wooden gun story (en.wikipedia.org).

10. The ‘Texas Tower’ Escape (2015, USA)

In June 2015, inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. Over several weeks, they meticulously planned their escape, cutting through steel walls in their cells and navigating a network of tunnels to reach a manhole cover outside the prison. Their escape led to a massive manhunt, culminating in Matt’s death and Sweat’s capture. The incident inspired the 2018 Showtime miniseries “Escape at Dannemora,” which delves into the events surrounding the escape (paramountplus.com).

11. The Pretoria Prison Escape (1979, South Africa)

In December 1979, anti-apartheid activists Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, along with fellow inmate Alex Moumbaris, escaped from Pretoria Central Prison in South Africa. They meticulously crafted wooden keys to unlock ten steel doors, navigating the prison’s complex security system. Their escape highlighted the resilience of political prisoners and was later depicted in the 2020 film “Escape from Pretoria,” starring Daniel Radcliffe (theguardian.com).

12. The Sobibor Uprising and Escape (1943, Nazi-occupied Poland)

On October 14, 1943, Jewish prisoners at the Sobibor extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland orchestrated a courageous uprising. Led by Leon Feldhendler and Soviet POW Alexander Pechersky, they killed 11 SS officers and seized weapons. Approximately 300 prisoners escaped, though many were killed during the escape or recaptured. Of those who fled, about 50 survived the war. This revolt remains one of World War II’s most significant acts of resistance. (encyclopedia.ushmm.org)

13. The Stanley Prison Escape (1937, Hong Kong)

In 1937, three inmates escaped from Hong Kong’s Stanley Prison, a facility renowned for its stringent security measures. Utilising homemade tools and strategic deception, they managed to break free, highlighting significant vulnerabilities in the prison’s design. This audacious escape embarrassed colonial administrators and prompted comprehensive reforms in prison protocols to enhance security and prevent future breaches (scmp.com).

14. Richard Lee McNair’s Mailbag Escape (2006, USA)

In April 2006, convicted murderer Richard Lee McNair escaped from the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana, by concealing himself within a pallet of refurbished mailbags. Working in the prison’s mailbag repair shop, McNair constructed a small “escape pod” with a breathing tube and hid inside the pallet. The pallet was shrink-wrapped and transported to a nearby warehouse outside the prison walls. After the warehouse staff left for lunch, McNair cut himself out of the pod and walked to freedom. Shortly after his escape, McNair was stopped by a local police officer while jogging near railroad tracks. He convinced the officer he was a jogger and not the escapee, allowing him to evade capture temporarily. McNair remained at large for over a year before being apprehended in Canada in October 2007 (en.wikipedia.org).

15. The Enduring Fascination with Prison Escapes

Throughout history, prison escapes have captivated the human imagination, highlighting the lengths individuals will go to for freedom. These daring acts underscore the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit. While such escapes are rare, they serve as stark reminders of the continuous battle between confinement and liberty. They also highlight the critical importance of robust security measures in correctional facilities worldwide. The lessons drawn from these incidents continue to shape and inform modern prison security protocols (ojp.gov).