Disaster in Peru: 13 killed in crash of small plane near popular tourist site

Thirteen people were killed when a small tourist plane crashed in southern Peru, near the archaeological site of the Nazca Lines. The aircraft, which had taken off from Pisco Airport, lost contact with the control tower a few minutes after takeoff. According to reports, there are no survivors. The crash occurred in farmland near the town of Pueblo Viejo.

Thirteen people were killed on Saturday when a small tourist plane crashed in southern Peru, near the archaeological site of the Nazca Lines. Peru's state news channel, TVPeru, reported that the aircraft carried 11 passengers and two pilots, and that there were no survivors. According to a report on the news site "Peru 21," the crash occurred at around 12:55 local time, in farmland near the town of Pueblo Viejo in the Nazca area, Ica region. The flight departed from Pisco Airport and belonged to the company "Aerodiana," which offers flights over the famous site as well as charter and cargo flights. The aircraft lost contact with the control tower a few minutes after takeoff. The Nazca Lines are giant desert drawings (geoglyphs) attributed to the Nazca culture, dating from 200 BC to 600 AD. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Many of the geoglyphs are only fully visible from the air, making sightseeing flights over the site popular.