A light aircraft operated by the Peruvian company Aerodiana tragically crashed this Saturday in the Pueblo Viejo area, located in southern Peru. The plane was on a sightseeing tour over the Nazca Lines when it went down, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals, including 11 tourists and two crew members, as reported by EFE.
The aircraft had departed from Pisco's air terminal shortly after noon, local time, aiming to provide a view of the famous geoglyphs in the Ica region's desert, a major tourist attraction in Peru.
Eyewitness to the incident, tour guide Juan Valdivia, explained that "the aircraft had seemingly completed its flyover and was nearing Nazca airport when it lost contact with the control tower. Another plane in the vicinity reportedly witnessed the crash."
Upon crashing, the plane caught fire, leaving no survivors.
In an official statement, the provincial municipality of Nazca confirmed the tragic incident and expressed their "deep sorrow" for the victims.
The crash site was cordoned off by the police, who were anticipating the arrival of the on-duty prosecutor and aeronautics authorities responsible for uncovering the cause of the accident.
While the identities and nationalities of the passengers had not been officially confirmed in the initial reports, some media outlets speculated that Italian tourists might have been among the deceased.
Coincidentally, the crash occurred a day after the Ica region experienced an increase in the Paracas winds, which, according to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi), reached speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour in Pisco, causing a sandstorm on Friday.
The authorities have yet to confirm whether the weather conditions played a direct role in the accident.
The municipal statement emphasized that "the aircraft accident investigation and oversight of flight operations fall under the jurisdiction of the appropriate authorities, who will determine the causes and assign responsibilities according to the law."
This crash marks the deadliest accident in the area in recent memory, adding to a documented history of incidents involving sightseeing flights over the geoglyphs: in February 2022, seven people, including three Dutch and two Chileans, perished; in 2010, six lives were lost when a Cessna 206 crashed; and in 2008, five French tourists died.
The Nazca Lines, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, consist of geoglyphs created between 200 B.C. and 600 A.D., spanning approximately 450 square kilometers in the southern Peruvian desert. They are best viewed from above.
Key Information about the Nazca Lines Plane Crash
What caused the tragic plane crash near the Nazca Lines?
The exact cause of the plane crash remains under investigation by aeronautics authorities. Weather conditions, such as strong winds, have not been ruled out as a contributing factor.
Who were the victims of the Nazca Lines plane crash?
The crash resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including 11 tourists and two crew members. Although not officially confirmed, reports suggest that some of the tourists might have been Italian.