13 killed as tourist plane crashes near Peru's Nazca Lines

In a tragic incident on Saturday, a tourist plane crashed near Nazca, a city in Peru, resulting in at least 13 fatalities, according to local authorities. The victims comprised 11 passengers, the pilot, and a co-pilot or guide, as stated by a National Police spokesperson at the scene. The plane was embarking on a sightseeing flight over the renowned Nazca Lines, a prominent tourist attraction in the Ica region, when the unfortunate accident occurred. The tragedy unfolded a day following a sandstorm that had impacted the area.

The aircraft, operated by Peruvian aviation company Aerodiana, had departed from Ica and was on a scheduled scenic flight over the Nazca Lines. These flights, which have been conducted by the airline for the past 14 years, utilize Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, as indicated on the company's website.

According to authorities, the plane had successfully completed its overflight and was on approach to Nazca airport when it lost contact with the control tower. The Ministry for Trade and Tourism of Peru reported that 11 foreign tourists, accompanied by two crew members, were on board the plane that crashed. Agence Andina, a state news agency, identified the passengers as two Germans, two Spanish nationals, and seven Italians.

The incident is currently under investigation by Peruvian authorities. For the most recent world news and live updates, readers are advised to download the TOI app.