At least 13 people have died following the crash of a small aircraft over the famous Nazca Lines in Peru. According to the Peruvian broadcaster RPP, citing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the plane carried eleven foreign tourists and two crew members. Initial reports indicate that the victims included seven Italians, two Germans, two Spaniards, a local tour guide, and the pilot.
The aircraft, operated by the Peruvian airline Aerodiana, had departed from the port city of Pisco for a sightseeing round trip over the Nazca Lines. Around 1 p.m. local time, the crew reported an emergency, after which communication ceased. Following the crash, the aircraft caught fire, making rescue efforts impossible. The Peruvian aviation accident authority, CIAA, has launched an investigation into the incident.
Peru’s Head of State, Keiko Fujimori, expressed her condolences regarding the tragedy and ordered an assessment to determine whether operations at Pisco Airport should be temporarily suspended. The region has a history of fatal aviation accidents, with the most recent having occurred in 2022.
