Crash Occurs Over Iconic Archaeological Site

Police in Peru reported that 13 people, including foreign tourists, died in a plane crash near the Nazca Lines in southern Peru — the Cessna Grand Caravan crashed in Pueblo Viejo, approximately 4 miles (6km) from the city of Nazca and roughly 12km from the Nazca Lines site.

Victims Include Tourists From Italy, Germany, and Spain

Local authorities identified the passengers as seven Italians, two Germans,believed to be a couple,and two Spanish people. The pilot and co-pilot were named as Americo Salazar Cuellar and Irenka Del Carpio, respectively.

The plane had departed from the nearby city of Pisco at around 1pm local time (7pm BST) for a flight over the Nazca Lines. Minutes later, it lost contact with the control tower and crashed at 1:20pm, according to police.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, and local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. “We have information that 11 passengers and two crew members have died,” Police Major Jorge Andrade said at the crash site. “Given the severity of the accident, there are no survivors. We have recovered four bodies so far,” he added.

Images from the scene appeared to show bodies on the sand. The Guardian reviewed video footage showing firefighters and police working amid the smoldering wreckage in the desert.

History of Air Safety Concerns at the Site

This deadly plane crash is not the first at the UNESCO World Heritage site, which draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually. Several operators offer overflights of the Nazca Lines, which date back to AD200–700, but safety and aircraft maintenance have been ongoing concerns.

In 2022, a small plane crash killed seven people, including two Chileans and three Dutch nationals. In October 2010, four British tourists and two Peruvian crew members died in a similar incident involving AirNasca. Earlier in 2010, three Chileans and four Peruvians died in another crash involving a Cessna 206. In April 2008, five French tourists were killed in another crash, though the pilot survived.

The municipality of Nazca stated in a Saturday message that “the investigation of the accident and the oversight of aviation operations are the responsibility of the competent authorities, who will determine the causes and assign liability in accordance with the law.”

Peru’s tourism ministry expressed “deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of tourists and crew members” in a statement.

The Nazca Lines, which include massive figures of a hummingbird, monkey, and whale, are only fully visible from the air, making overflights a popular tourist activity despite the risks.