Tourist plane crashes in Peru, killing 13

A small Cessna Caravan C-208 carrying 13 tourists crashed in Peru on Saturday, killing everyone on board according to local news reports and Peruvian officials. The aircraft was en route to the Nazca Lines archaeological site when it went down. The passengers comprised two Germans, two Spaniards, and seven Italian tourists. The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

The Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Peru, showcases ancient geoglyphs created by the Nazca culture over 1,600 years ago. The plane departed from Pisco airport and was headed towards the site when it crashed around 1:00 PM local time, according to police. Major Jorge Andrade confirmed there were no survivors, having recovered four bodies thus far.

The scene was doused with water by firefighters, with smoke billowing from the wreckage. The Municipalidad Provincial de Nasca expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families of the deceased in a statement. The plane belonged to local Peruvian airline Aerodiana, which said it would reassess its flight schedule in line with authorities' directives.

This incident is not the first plane crash over the Nazca Lines, which has experienced such occurrences in 2022 and 2010 as well, each resulting in fatalities.