A small sightseeing plane crashed on Saturday, August 1st, as it was flying over the Nazca Lines archaeological site in southern Peru, killing 13 people.
The small sightseeing aircraft was operated by Aerodiana company, which specializes in providing aerial tours of the Nazca Lines with a fleet primarily consisting of Cessna 208B Grand Caravan planes. The plane took off from Pisco Airport and was headed towards the Nazca Lines for sightseeing.
At around 12:55 local time, the plane crashed in the agricultural area of Pueblo Viejo near Nazca city, only about 6 kilometers from the Maria Reiche Aeródromo. The aircraft immediately caught fire upon impact.
All 13 people on board, including 11 foreign tourists and 2 Peruvian crew members (the pilot and copilot), perished in the crash. The nationalities of the passengers have not been fully confirmed yet, but initial information suggests that among the deceased tourists could be Italian travelers.
Following the incident, the local 82nd Fire Department quickly responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire. The crash site is now sealed off to protect evidence.
An official detailed investigation report has not been released yet, and authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation focusing on mechanical failure, adverse weather conditions (strong winds), or operational factors.
The Nazca region is known for strong winds often referred to as “Paracas.” In fact, the day before the accident on July 31st, some sightseeing flights were temporarily suspended due to strong winds disrupting operations.
The Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are among the most famous archaeological and tourist attractions in Peru. While there have been small sightseeing plane accidents in the region in the past, this tragedy has still shocked the international community.