NAZCA, Peru, (Reuters): A small tourist aircraft crashed near Peru’s famous Nazca Lines archaeological site on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board, local authorities said.
Peru’s Ministry of Commerce and Tourism confirmed that the plane was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two crew members when it went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, about 6 kilometres from Nazca city and around 12 kilometres from the Nazca Lines site.
The aircraft belonged to local airline Aerodiana and had departed from Pisco Airport for a sightseeing flight over the ancient desert geoglyphs.
According to local reports, the crash occurred at around 12:55 p.m. local time as the aircraft was preparing to return after completing its tour flight.
What Is Known About the Crash Investigation?
Authorities said the aircraft lost contact with the control tower before crashing, though the cause of the accident remains unknown.
The plane caught fire after impact, leaving emergency crews unable to carry out a rescue operation. Firefighters and municipal police responded to the scene to control the blaze and recover the victims.
Videos shared on social media showed smoke rising from the wreckage in the desert area, though the footage could not be independently verified.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
The incident comes shortly after flights over the Nazca Lines were temporarily affected by strong winds that reduced visibility in the area. Tourist flights from the nearby Maria Reiche Airport had been suspended due to wind speeds exceeding 40 kilometres per hour.
The Nazca Lines, recognised as one of Peru’s most important tourist attractions, attract around 100,000 visitors annually, with many tourists viewing the massive ancient designs from small aircraft.