13 Killed in Small Plane Crash in Peru; Tourists Included Seven Italians

A tragic accident occurred in Ica, Peru, when a small Aerodiana aircraft crashed, resulting in the deaths of all 13 individuals on board. The flight had departed from the Captain FAP Renán Elías Olivera airport in San Andrés, Pisco, not from the María Reiche aerodrome in Nasca as initially suggested.

The 11 tourists on board, who had previously visited the Ballestas Islands, included seven Italian nationals, two Spanish citizens, and two Germans. Their identities have been released: Elena Sala (58), Matteo Gianturco (24), Lorenzo Angelucci (24), Massimo Angelucci (58), Cristina Maria Bianco (57), Paolo Gianturco (59), and Pietro Gianturco (18) from Italy; Andreas Hofmann (78) and Gertrud Maria Hofmann (77) from Germany; and Yerro Alfredo Avilés Muñoz (52) and Ana Isabel Sánchez Muñoz (52) from Spain. The two crew members who perished were pilot Américo Salazar and co-pilot Irenka del Carpio.

This flight had only recently resumed operations in the area after a temporary suspension due to strong winds. Reports indicate that violent gusts on Friday caused fallen trees, infrastructure damage, and traffic accidents, highlighting the challenging weather conditions. The municipality of Vista Alegre in Nasca stated that preliminary information points to the aircraft encountering an emergency during its flight.

The accident serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with air travel, particularly in regions prone to unpredictable weather patterns. Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are expected to follow, focusing on the aircraft's condition and the circumstances leading up to the in-flight emergency.