Tourist plane crash leaves 13 dead in Peru

A small tourist plane crashed in Peru, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people, according to police. The aircraft, carrying 13 passengers and two crew members, was in the process of flying to the famous Nazca Lines archaeological site when the accident occurred. The incident took place just after 1pm local time, following takeoff from the Pisco airport, located about 240km (150 miles) south of Lima.

Police Major Jorge Andrade stated that no survivors have been found thus far, with only four bodies having been recovered at the site. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time, and Peru's civil aviation authority has been tasked with investigating the incident. The crash site was strewn with twisted and smoldering wreckage, as reported on Facebook by local news outlets.

The airport in Pisco handles numerous small planes, primarily foreign tourists seeking to see the Nazca Lines. Flights to the lines from the nearby Maria Reiche had been suspended on Friday due to strong winds, which reduced visibility and kicked up dust. These winds led to a diversion of two Peruvian tourists and six foreign visitors to Marcona Airport.

The UNESCO World Heritage site showcases a collection of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert sands, dating from 500BC to AD500. Unfortunately, similar accidents have happened in the region before; in 2022, seven people, including two Chileans and three Dutch nationals, perished in a plane crash, and in October 2010, four British tourists and two Peruvian crew members lost their lives when an AirNasca plane went down while transporting tourists to the Nazca Lines.