Peru: 13 killed in tourist plane crash

Authorities in the Nazca region announced that a small tourist plane crashed on Saturday while flying over the archaeological site of the Nazca Lines in southern Peru, killing 13 people.

In a statement, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism said the plane was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two pilots.

Local authorities reported that the aircraft crashed in the Pueblo Viejo area, approximately six kilometers from the city of Nazca and about 12 kilometers from the Nazca Lines site.

Local officials clarified that the small plane belonged to the Peruvian airline Aerodiana, having departed from Pisco Airport. The company did not immediately provide a comment. According to police reports cited by local media, the accident occurred at 12:55 p.m. local time while the plane was conducting a tourist flight and preparing to begin its return journey.

The Nazca Lines, consisting of massive drawings and geometric shapes etched into the desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors annually. Visitors typically view the lines from small planes flying overhead.

Flights over the Nazca Lines, which depart from the nearby Maria Reiche Airport, were suspended on Friday due to wind speeds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour, which stirred up dust and reduced visibility.