Tourist plane crashes near Nazca Lines in Peru, 13 dead

A small tourist aircraft crashed in the Nazca region of southern Peru on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board, according to local accounts reported by the BBC. The plane was on a sightseeing tour of the Nazca Lines, the UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its giant geoglyphs etched into the desert floor and best viewed from the air.

Crash Near a World Heritage Site

The Nazca Lines are one of Peru's most popular tourist attractions, drawing visitors who take short flights over the archaeological zone to see the ancient figures — including shapes of animals, plants and geometric patterns — spread across approximately 450 square kilometres of the Peruvian desert. Tourist flights over the lines are a regular activity run by small aviation operators in the area.

Emergency Response Underway

Peruvian emergency services and authorities mobilised following reports of the crash. The cause of the accident has not yet been confirmed. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's flight data and witness testimony to determine what caused the plane to go down.

History of Incidents at Nazca

Small aircraft crashes in the Nazca region have occurred on previous occasions, given the challenging flying conditions over the desert terrain. The loss of 13 lives makes this one of the deadliest aviation incidents in the region in recent years.

Peruvian authorities have not yet released the nationalities of those killed or the identity of the aircraft operator.