Plane crash in Peru kills 13 on tourist flight to Nazca Lines

A plane carrying European tourists to view Peru's famed Nazca Lines archaeological site crashed into a field near the city of Nazca on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board. The victims included 11 foreign tourists and two crew members.

Peru's Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed the fatalities, identifying seven Italian citizens, two Spaniards, and two Germans among the tourists. The deceased crew members were pilot Américo Salazar and copilot Irenka Guanilo del Carpio.

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The ministry said the plane crashed in the area of Socos, approximately 6 kilometres from the city of Nazca and about 19km from the Nazca Lines site.

The small Cessna Caravan C-208 aircraft belonged to local airline Aerodiana and had departed from Pisco Airport. Approximately an hour after takeoff, the crew reported an emergency situation to the Nazca airport control tower, after which all radio contact was lost. The plane caught fire after crashing, hindering rescue efforts.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Flights over the Nazca Lines, a major tourist destination, typically depart from the nearby Maria Reiche Airport. Flights had been suspended on Friday due to strong winds, which had forced other aircraft to divert.

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After crashing, the plane caught fire, making any rescue impossible, according to Peruvian broadcaster RPP.