At least 13 people, including two pilots, were killed after a tourist aircraft crashed in Peru while flying toward the world-famous Nazca Lines, authorities confirmed. The tragic accident occurred on Saturday shortly after the plane departed from Pisco Airport for a sightseeing flight over one of the country's most renowned archaeological landmarks.
According to officials in Peru's Nazca province, the aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers just minutes after takeoff. A search operation was immediately launched, and emergency responders later located the wreckage near Pueblo Viejo. Police, firefighters, and rescue teams rushed to the crash site, but all those on board were declared dead.
The aircraft was operated by the private aviation company Aero Diana and was carrying tourists on a scheduled aerial tour of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nazca Lines, a globally recognized collection of massive ancient geoglyphs etched into Peru's desert landscape.
Authorities have not yet released the identities or nationalities of the victims. Investigators have begun examining the cause of the crash, with mechanical failure and adverse weather conditions among the possible factors under review.
Reports indicate that weather in the Nazca region had deteriorated a day before the accident. Strong winds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour, along with dense fog and stormy conditions, had significantly reduced visibility in parts of the area. Officials are assessing whether those conditions contributed to the tragedy.
The fatal crash has shocked Peru's tourism sector and raised fresh concerns about the safety of sightseeing flights operating near one of South America's most iconic heritage destinations. Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation into the incident.
