Disaster in Peru: 13 killed in tourist plane crash
A tourist plane crashed last night in southern Peru near the Nazca Lines, killing 13 people. On board were 11 foreign tourists and two crew members. The plane, owned by Aerodiana, crashed near Pueblo Viejo and caught fire. Authorities have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
A Cessna Caravan tourist plane, owned by Aerodiana, crashed last night (Saturday) in southern Peru during a sightseeing flight over the Nazca Lines. All 13 people on board were killed: 11 foreign tourists and two crew members. The plane took off from Pisco Airport and crashed near Pueblo Viejo, about 6 km from the city of Nazca and about 12 km from the famous archaeological site. According to police reports, the accident occurred at 12:55 local time, while the plane was on a sightseeing flight and preparing to begin its return journey. After the crash, the plane caught fire, and according to Peruvian network RPP, the occupants could not be rescued. Firefighters and police were called to the scene, and authorities said the circumstances of the accident would be investigated. Footage posted on social media showed what appeared to be a small plane in a dry area with smoke rising, but Reuters noted they could not independently verify the footage. The Nazca Lines are one of Peru's main tourist attractions, drawing about 100,000 visitors a year, many on sightseeing flights. The day before, flights in the area had been suspended due to winds exceeding 40 km/h, which raised dust and reduced visibility.