- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sun, 02 Aug 2026 08:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Tourist plane crashed near Nazca Lines, Peru.
- Thirteen people died, including European tourists.
- Pilot reported emergency before fatal Aerodiana crash.
A plane carrying European tourists to view the famed Nazca Lines crashed into a field outside the Peruvian city of Nazca, killing 13 people, local authorities said. The crash came moments after the crew members reported an emergency situation.
Nazca's municipal government said the plane departed from the nearby city of Ica on Saturday and was operated by Peruvian company Aerodiana. On its website, the airline said that it has offered scenic flights over the Nazca lines for the past 14 years using Cessna Grand Caravan planes.
VIDEO: Aftermath of Peru plane crash
#Mundo | ✈️ Un avión turístico se estrelló cerca de Nazca, Perú, dejando 13 personas muertas. La aeronave, operada por Aerodiana, realizaba un vuelo sobre las Líneas de Nazca cuando cayó en un campo agrícola y se incendió. No hubo sobrevivientes. pic.twitter.com/I25d1aJALo
— Vanguardia (@vanguardiacom) August 1, 2026
The Nazca Lines are a group of extensive geoglyphs scraped into the desert around Nazca hundreds of years ago by Peru's Indigenous inhabitants. The lines form images of animals that can only be fully appreciated from planes or viewing towers.
Italian, German citizens among killed
Among the dead were seven Italian citizens between the ages of 18 and 54, two 52-year-old Spaniards and two Germans of 77 and 78 years, Peru's Transportation Ministry said. The other two fatalities were the pilot Americo Salazar and copilot Irenka Guanilo del Carpio, it said in an official report.
President Keiko Fujimori expressed regret over the accident and said a "temporary suspension" of the airport was being considered, though the decision will be made once she receives reports from the relevant ministries. Peruvian authorities said the accident is under investigation.
Pilot had reported an emergency situation before crash
At approximately 1:00 p.m. local time, the crew reported an emergency situation to the control tower at Nazca airport, after which all radio contact was lost, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement.
After crashing, the plane caught fire, making any rescue impossible, according to Peruvian broadcaster RPP. Firefighters and municipal police officers were dispatched to extinguish the fire and carry out initial rescue efforts.
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Footage shared on social media showed the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be a small plane on arid plains.
Aerodiana said in a statement that it "will assess its flight schedule in accordance with the directives of the relevant authorities."
(With inputs from agencies)