Tourist plane crashes near Peru's Nazca Lines, killing 13

A tourist plane operated by Aerodiana crashed and burst into flames on Saturday, August 1, near Nasca, Peru, resulting in the deaths of all 13 individuals on board. The aircraft was on a sightseeing tour over the renowned Nazca Lines, a major archaeological attraction.

The plane had departed from Pisco airport with the intention of flying over the geoglyphs. Tragically, it lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff and crashed into an agricultural field in the Pueblo Viejo sector, approximately six kilometers from Nasca city. Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion before the aircraft impacted the ground and ignited.

The victims comprised 11 foreign tourists, with initial reports suggesting seven were Italian, two German, and two Spanish nationals. The pilot and co-pilot were both Peruvian citizens. There were no survivors.

Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) expressed its condolences for the loss of life. The ministry has activated its Tourist Protection Network to provide support to the embassies of the victims' home countries. Personnel are on-site monitoring the situation.

The Vista Alegre District Municipality clarified that the aircraft originated from Pisco airport, not the María Reiche Neuman airport in Nasca, to prevent the spread of inaccurate information. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.