Tourist Plane Crash in Peru Kills 13

A plane crash in Peru, flying over Nazca Lines, resulted in the death of 13 people, including international tourists. Investigation underway.

A small plane carrying tourists has tragically crashed in Peru, claiming the lives of all 13 individuals on board. Local news sources and officials reported that the aircraft, a Cessna Caravan C-208, went down while flying over the renowned Nazca Lines archaeological site on Saturday.

Among the deceased were two German, two Spanish, and seven Italian passengers, as stated by Peru’s state news agency. The circumstances leading to the crash remain under investigation.

The Nazca Lines, a Unesco World Heritage site situated in southern Peru, features ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert sand, and it is a prime tourist attraction. Sightseeing flights over this historical site are a popular activity for visitors eager to view the impressive designs.

The accident occurred at approximately 1:00 PM local time (19:00 BST) in the Pueblo Viejo region, shortly after the plane had taken off from an airport in Pisco. Police Major Jorge Andrade confirmed the severity of the incident, stating, “Given the severity of the accident, there are no survivors. We have recovered four bodies so far.”

Footage captured by Reuters showcases firefighters working at the crash site, dousing the wreckage with water as smoke ascends into the air.

In a heartfelt statement, the Municipalidad Provincial de Nasca expressed deep sorrow about the tragedy and offered heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the loss. The airline operating the flight, Aerodiana, declared that it would evaluate its flight schedule in response to directives from relevant authorities.

This incident marks a grim reiteration of aviation safety concerns, as it is not the first incident involving tourist flights over the Nazca Lines. A similar accident occurred in 2022, which resulted in the deaths of seven individuals. Additionally, a crash in 2010 claimed the lives of six people.