All 13 Killed as Tourist Plane Crashes Near Peru's Nazca Lines

A sightseeing flight over Peru's Nazca Lines ended in tragedy Saturday when a small tourist plane crashed near the city of Nazca, killing all 13 people on board. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by regional tour operator Aerodiana, was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two crew members when it went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, according to the Nazca municipal government and the Peruvian National Police.

Authorities said the aircraft reported a mechanical problem to the Nazca airfield control tower shortly before radio contact was lost. The plane struck a field at approximately 12:55 p.m. local time and was quickly engulfed in flames, leaving no survivors. Victims included seven Italian nationals, two Spaniards and two Germans, along with pilot Américo Salazar and co-pilot Renkaanilo Carpio, as confirmed by local officials.

Peru's Aviation Accident Investigation Commission has launched a formal probe into the crash. Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rogers Valencia said investigators are analyzing the emergency radio call, the flight path and physical evidence recovered from the wreckage. Peruvian authorities expressed deep regret over the accident and pledged a thorough investigation.