13 Confirmed Dead in Peru Aircraft Crash Near Nazca Lines

On Saturday, a small aircraft carrying tourists to Peru’s Nazca Lines crashed shortly after take-off from Pisco Airport, resulting in the confirmed deaths of 13 individuals, including 11 passengers and two crew members. The aircraft took off around 1:00 p.m. local time and crashed minutes later near the airport, prompting a significant emergency response from firefighters, police, medical personnel, and disaster management officials.

Witnesses reported that the aircraft lost altitude before crashing and bursting into flames, with thick smoke rising from the wreckage. Police Major Jorge Andrade confirmed that the impact left no chance of survival, stating that rescue teams initially recovered four bodies.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities or nationalities of the victims, pending family notifications. An investigation by Peru’s civil aviation authority has commenced to determine the crash's cause, focusing on the aircraft's maintenance history, weather conditions, and communications between the pilot and air traffic controllers.