Nazca (HRNW)- A small tourist plane conducting a sightseeing flight over Peru’s world-famous Nazca Lines crashed on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board, including 11 foreign tourists and two crew members.
According to international media reports, Peru’s Ministry of Trade and Tourism and Ministry of Transport confirmed that the foreign tourists on board were citizens of Italy, Germany, and Spain.
The aircraft, a Cessna Caravan operated by local airline Aerodiana, was being used for aerial tours of the UNESCO-listed Nazca Lines.
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Transport, the plane departed from Pisco Airport at 12:10 p.m. After completing its sightseeing flight over the Nazca Lines, the crew reported an emergency to Nazca Airport at around 1:00 p.m. while returning.
Aviation authorities said the aircraft was flying near Socos when radio contact was lost shortly afterward.
Witnesses reported that the plane crashed in the Pueblo Viejo area, about four miles from the city of Nazca and seven miles from the Nazca Lines, before catching fire. The aircraft was destroyed by the blaze, and no one survived.
Firefighters and local police reached the scene, extinguished the fire, and completed initial rescue operations. Authorities said the exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
According to reports, flights over the Nazca Lines from Maria Reiche Airport had been temporarily suspended a day earlier due to strong winds, dust, and poor visibility. Two aircraft were diverted to alternate airports, although officials have not confirmed whether Saturday’s crash was related to weather conditions.
Civil aviation authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident and are examining flight records, communication logs, and evidence collected from the crash site.
The Nazca Lines are ancient giant geoglyphs located in southern Peru and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The archaeological landmark attracts around 100,000 visitors each year, many of whom take sightseeing flights to view the massive designs from the air.
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