Tourist plane crash leaves 13 dead near Nazca Lines in Peru

A tourist plane has crashed in Peru, leaving 13 people dead, according to local authorities.

The aircraft went down in a field near Nazca, a city on Peru's southern coast famous for the its archaeological and tourist attractions.

Authorities said the plane was flying over the Nazca Lines, a series of ancient geoglyphs carved in the desert, which can only be fully appreciated from the air.

The small plane took ​off from Pisco airport to fly ⁠over the Nazca Lines, but lost contact with the control tower minutes later, local news outlet RPP reported.

The crash occurred at about 12.55pm local time on Saturday, when the aircraft was preparing to return from the sightseeing flight.

Footage shared on social media showed the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be a small plane.

The plane ​was carrying 11 passengers and two pilots, according to Peru's Ministry ​of Commerce and Tourism.

Firefighters and police officers raced to the scene to ‌extinguish the fire and launch rescue efforts.

The crash site is the area ​of Pueblo Viejo, approximately six kilometres from the ‌city of Nazca and roughly 12 kilometres from the Nazca Lines site, local authorities said.

The reason behind the crash remains unknown and local authorities said an investigation will be launched.

The small aircraft belonged to the local Peruvian airline Aerodiana, local authorities said.

On its website the airline says that it has offered scenic flights over the Nazca Lines for the past 14 years, using Cessna Grand Caravan planes.

The Nazca Lines, enormous drawings and geometric figures etched ​into desert plains in the south of the country, are ​one of Peru's main tourist destinations, attracting about 100,000 visitors annually.

Flights over the Nazca Lines departing from the nearby Maria Reiche Airport had been suspended on Friday due ⁠to winds exceeding 40 kph (25 mph), which kicked ​up dust and reduced visibility.

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(c) Sky News 2026: Tourist plane crash leaves 13 dead near Nazca Lines in Peru