Plane crash in Peru kills 13 people on tourist flight

Plane crash in Peru kills 13 people on tourist flight to see Nazca Lines archaeological site Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 1:10pm In short: A small plane has crashed in southern Peru, killing 13 people. The plane was carrying tourists to view the famed Nazca Lines, drawings and geometric figures etched into desert plains. What's next? The cause of the crash is unknown and the Peruvian government says it is investigating the incident. A plane carrying European tourists to view Peru's famed Nazca Lines archaeological site crashed into a field on Saturday outside the city of Nazca, killing 13 people, Peru's government says. Peru's Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a statement that the plane was carrying 11 foreign tourists, from Germany, Italy and Spain, and two crew members. Among the dead were seven Italian citizens between the ages of 18 and 54, two 52-year-old Spaniards and two Germans, aged 77 and 78, Peru's Transportation Ministry said. The other two fatalities were the pilot Américo Salazar and copilot Irenka Guanilo del Carpio, it said in an official report. Images only seen from above The Nazca Lines are enormous drawings and geometric figures that were etched into the desert in the south of Peru hundreds of years ago by the country's Indigenous inhabitants. The lines form images of animals that can only be fully appreciated from planes or viewing towers. Peru's President Keiko Fujimori expressed regret over the crash and said a "temporary suspension" of the airport was being considered, though the decision will be made once she receives reports from the relevant ministries. The ministry said the plane crashed in the area of Socos, approximately 6 kilometres from the city of Nazca and about 19km from the Nazca Lines site. The small plane, a Cessna Caravan C-208 aircraft, belonged to the local Peruvian airline Aerodiana and had taken off from the Pisco Airport about 12:10pm local time. At about 1:00pm local time the crew reported an emergency situation to the control tower at Nazca airport, after which all radio contact was lost, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. After crashing, the plane caught fire, making any rescue impossible, according to Peruvian broadcaster RPP. Firefighters and municipal police officers were dispatched to extinguish the fire and carry out initial rescue efforts. Cause of crash unknown The cause of the crash is unknown and the government said it was investigating the incident. Aerodiana said in a statement that it "will assess its flight schedule in accordance with the directives of the relevant authorities". The Nazca Lines are one of Peru's main tourist destinations, attracting approximately 100,000 annual visitors. Visitors typically view them from small aircraft flying over the site. Flights over the Nazca Lines departing from the nearby Maria Reiche Airport had been suspended on Friday due to winds exceeding 40 kilometres per hour, which kicked up dust and reduced visibility. The strong winds forced a small plane carrying two Peruvian tourists and another aircraft carrying six foreign visitors to divert to the Marcona Airport, according to local media. Reuters/AP