Tourist plane crashes in Peru, killing 13 on a Nazca Lines sightseeing flight

A tourist plane carrying European travelers to witness the renowned Nazca Lines met with a tragic crash outside the Peruvian city of Nazca on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals, according to local authorities. The municipal government of Nazca revealed that the flight originated from the nearby city of Ica and was operated by the Peruvian airline, Aerodiana.

The airline's online presence indicates that they have been providing scenic flights over the Nazca Lines for the past 14 years, utilizing Cessna Grand Caravan planes. The Nazca Lines consist of a vast array of intricate geoglyphs meticulously carved into the desert thousands of years ago by Peru's Indigenous people. These enigmatic designs, featuring animal silhouettes, are only truly visible when viewed from an aerial perspective or from designated viewing platforms.

Among the 13 fatalities were seven Italian nationals aged between 18 and 54, two Spaniards aged 52, two Germans aged 77 and 78, the pilot Américo Salazar, and the copilot Irenka Guanilo del Carpio. President Keiko Fujimori expressed her condolences over the incident and suggested a "temporary suspension" of the airport, pending further reports from relevant ministries.

The Peruvian authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the accident. However, Aerodiana has not yet provided a statement.