Thirteen die in tourist plane crash over Peru’s Nazca Lines
A small tourist plane crashed on Saturday while flying over the famous Nazca Lines in southern Peru, killing all 13 people on board. Local authorities in Nazca province confirmed the tragic incident.
Peru’s Ministry of Commerce and Tourism stated that the aircraft was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two crew members. The plane belonged to the local airline Aerodiana and had taken off from Pisco Airport for a sightseeing flight.
According to police reports, the crash happened at 12:55 p.m. local time near Pueblo Viejo. The site is about 6 km from the city of Nazca and roughly 12 km from the Nazca Lines themselves. The plane lost contact with the control tower before going down and later caught fire, making rescue efforts impossible.
Firefighters and municipal police rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames and begin initial recovery work. Footage shared on social media showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage on the arid desert plains. Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash, which remains unknown for now.
The Nazca Lines, massive ancient drawings and geometric figures etched into the desert floor, rank among Peru’s top tourist attractions. Nearly 100,000 visitors come every year, and most choose to view the lines from small aircraft flying overhead.
Flights over the site had already faced problems the day before. Strong winds exceeding 40 kph forced the temporary suspension of departures from Maria Reiche Airport on Friday. Those winds kicked up dust and sharply reduced visibility. Two other planes, one with Peruvian tourists and another with foreign visitors, had to divert to Marcona Airport because of the weather.
Emergency crews continue working at the crash site while investigators examine the wreckage and flight data. The incident has shocked both local communities and the international tourism sector that relies heavily on these popular aerial tours.
