Tourist plane crashes in Peru, killing 13

A small plane, operated by Peruvian airline Aerodiana, carrying 13 people crashed in Peru on Saturday, according to local news reports and Peruvian officials. The aircraft was flying over the Nazca Lines archaeological site when it went down. The passengers included two Germans, two Spanish nationals, and seven Italian tourists.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. The Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an ancient collection of drawings in the desert sand, attracting tourists who often fly in small planes to view them. As of now, there are no survivors. Four bodies have been recovered so far, according to Police Major Jorge Andrade. The crash occurred around 1:00 PM local time in the Pueblo Viejo region, following the plane's departure from an airport in Pisco.

Video footage from Reuters shows firefighters extinguishing the flames at the scene, with smoke billowing from the wreckage. The Municipalidad Provincial de Nasca released a statement expressing deep sorrow for the accident and sending heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. The airline stated that it would assess its flight schedule in accordance with the directives of the relevant authorities.

This incident is not the first plane crash to occur over the Nazca Lines in recent decades, with two other crashes taking place in 2022 and 2010, both resulting in fatalities.