A tourist aircraft crashed near the southern Peruvian city of Nazca on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board during a sightseeing flight over the world-famous Nazca Lines, local authorities said.
The aircraft, operated by Peruvian airline AeroDiana, was carrying 11 passengers and two pilots when it crashed shortly after taking off from the nearby city of Ica, officials said.
Authorities said the cause of the crash remains unclear and that an investigation has been launched to determine what led to the accident. AeroDiana had not issued a public statement regarding the crash at the time of publication.
Peruvian authorities and local media had not immediately released details about the identities, nationalities or backgrounds of those killed.
The crash occurred near the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Peru’s most recognisable tourist attractions. The site features hundreds of enormous figures, animals and geometric patterns carved into the desert landscape more than a thousand years ago.
Sightseeing flights in small aircraft are a popular way for visitors to view the massive designs from the air, with thousands of tourists travelling to the region each year. The Nazca Lines attract an estimated 100,000 visitors annually and are considered a major part of Peru’s tourism industry.
The accident has raised renewed attention on the safety of tourist aviation operations in the region, where small aircraft are frequently used for aerial tours over archaeological sites and desert landscapes.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records, weather conditions and other factors as they work to determine the cause of the crash.
