Thirteen people, including two pilots and eleven tourists, died Saturday when a small sightseeing aircraft crashed in southern Peru, according to local police. The Cessna Caravan C-208, operated by the Peruvian airline Aerodiana, went down in a field in the Nazca province after reporting an emergency to the control tower in Nazca.
Fatal Sightseeing Flight Plunges in Nazca Province
The aircraft took off from the airport in Pisco, according to local media reports cited by Agence France-Presse. At approximately 13:00 local time (20:00 CEST), the flight crew radioed the Nazca control tower to report an emergency before all communication ceased. Local police commander Jorge Andrade confirmed the fatality count. “Eleven passengers and two crew members died,” Andrade said, adding that four bodies had been recovered so far. Unconfirmed reports from Peruvian media outlets indicate the passengers included tourists from Spain, Italy, and Germany.
Post-Crash Fire Hinders Rescue Operations
Flames engulfed the wreckage immediately after impact, preventing rescue workers from reaching anyone on board, according to Peruvian broadcaster RPP. Firefighters and municipal police rushed to the site to extinguish the fire and initiate rescue efforts. Officials in Nazca province published an online statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy and offering sincere condolences to the families of the victims. Aerodiana announced it will adjust its flight schedule in accordance with instructions from relevant authorities.
Weather Conditions and Prior Tragedies Over the Geoglyphs
Flights over the Nazca lines from the nearby María Reiche airport had been suspended on Friday due to winds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour. That strong wind raised dust and degraded visibility, forcing two smaller tourist planes to divert to the Marconas airport. Saturday’s crash marks a fatal accident over the ancient site. A tourist flight crash in 2022 killed all seven people on board, and a similar accident in 2010 claimed six lives, according to BBC reports.
The ancient geoglyphs on the Nazca plain have held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1994 and date back roughly 2,000 years. These massive designs depict animals and human figures, remaining recognizable only from high altitudes. Recent archaeological work by Japanese researchers has uncovered hundreds of additional geoglyphs depicting birds, snakes, monkeys, and human figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the plane crash in Nazca?
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, though the crew reported an emergency to the control tower shortly before losing radio contact.
How many people were on board the flight?
Thirteen people were on the flight, consisting of eleven passengers and two crew members, according to police commander Jorge Andrade.
Are sightseeing flights over the Nazca lines frequently disrupted?
High winds and poor visibility led to flight suspensions, such as the groundings reported just a day prior to the accident due to winds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour.
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