All 13 people aboard a tourist flight over Peru's Nazca Lines were killed when the aircraft crashed near the ancient geoglyphs on Friday afternoon. The plane, operated by regional airline Aerodiana, went down around 1pm local time in the Pueblo Viejo area, shortly after departing from an airport in Pisco, according to Peru's state news agency.
Victims included tourists from three European countries
The flight carried 11 passengers and two crew members. Among the passengers were two German nationals, two Spanish nationals, and seven Italian tourists, as reported by the official news outlet. Peruvian radio station RPP indicated the victims ranged in age from 18 to 78 years old.
Emergency services rushed to the remote crash site, where images showed thick smoke rising from the wreckage. Police Major Jorge Andrade told AFP: 'Given the severity of the accident, there are no survivors. We have recovered four bodies so far.'
Nazca Lines: a UNESCO World Heritage site
The Nazca Lines are massive figures etched into the desert floor by indigenous peoples roughly 1,600 years ago. Some figures, such as a pelican stretching 285 metres long, are so large they can only be fully appreciated from the air. The site was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1994 and remains a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the globe.
Sightseeing flights over the geoglyphs had been temporarily suspended on Friday due to wind speeds exceeding 40km/h, which created dust clouds that reduced visibility. However, the exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Official response and condolences
The Municipalidad Provincial de Nasca issued a statement confirming the aircraft was operated by Aerodiana airline and extended 'its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.' The statement did not provide additional details about the incident.
Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage and flight records to establish why the plane went down. The tragedy marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the region in recent years, highlighting the risks of low-altitude sightseeing flights over challenging terrain.
