13 Dead As Tourist Plane Crashes In Peru Near The Famous Nazca Lines
13 Dead As Tourist Plane Crashes In Peru Near The Famous Nazca Lines Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 07:09 IST A scenic flight
13 Dead As Tourist Plane Crashes In Peru Near The Famous Nazca Lines Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 07:09 IST A scenic flight turns fatal - 13 killed as a plane carrying tourists to Peru’s Nazca Lines crashes, with flames engulfing the site and delaying rescue. Rapid Read A tourist plane crashed near the Nazca lines, where ancient cultures had drawn ritualistic astronomical carvings on the ground. (Image source: Reuters) At least 13 people died after a small aircraft crashed in Peru on Saturday, police said, according to Al Jazeera. The plane was carrying passengers, most of them tourists, who were heading to view the famous Nazca Lines. These are massive ancient drawings etched into the desert. “We have information that 11 passengers and two crew members have died," Police Major Jorge Andrade told reporters at the crash site in southern Peru.
Fire Engulfs Crash Site Local media reported that the crash site caught fire soon after the impact. The flames made it impossible for rescue teams to act immediately. The aircraft had taken off from Pisco in the Ica region. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash. The plane belonged to Aerodiana, a Peruvian company that operates sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines, Al Jazeera report noted, citing local sources. What’s Special About Nazca Lines Peru draws millions of visitors each year. Tourists come to see its rich heritage, including Machu Picchu and the historic city of Cusco. More than 4.1 million international tourists visited the country in 2025, according to figures from Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
The Nazca Lines lie in a desert along Peru’s southern coast. They stretch across a vast area near the Andes. Experts believe the geoglyphs were created between 500 BC and 500 AD. The site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. UNESCO describes the lines as “among archaeology’s greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size and continuity". “The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylised plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometres long," UNESCO said. It added that “They are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions." Because of their size, the figures are best seen from the air. Flights allow visitors to spot shapes of animals like monkeys, hummingbirds and cats. Saturday’s crash has now cast a shadow over one of Peru’s most popular tourist experiences.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Lima, Peru First Published: August 02, 2026, 07:09 IST News world 13 Dead As Tourist Plane Crashes In Peru Near The Famous Nazca Lines Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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