STORY: A tourist aircraft crashed Saturday (August 1) while flying over Peru's ancient Nazca Lines archaeological site, killing all 13 people aboard, according to the Peruvian police.

The plane went down in the Pueblo Viejo sector after taking off from Maria Reiche Airport for a sightseeing flight over the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Nazca municipality said.

William Acosta, an inspector from the Civil Aviation Directorate General, told reporters that Italian tourists were believed to be among the victims, though he could not confirm all nationalities.

The accident occurred one day after tourist flights over the area resumed following a suspension due to strong winds, according to state news agency Andina.

The Nazca Lines, massive geoglyphs etched into southern Peru's desert, are one of the country's premier tourist attractions, typically viewed from small aircraft departing from a nearby airfield.

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STORY: A small aircraft crashed near Peru's Nazca Lines archaeological site on Saturday (August 1), killing all 13 people aboard including 11 foreign tourists and two crew members.

The Aerodiana company plane went down shortly after taking off for a tourist flight over the ancient geoglyphs. The victims included seven Italian nationals, two Germans and two Spanish tourists, according to Roger Sarmiento, mayor of Vista Alegre district.

Peru's Transport Ministry said the crew had reported an emergency situation to the Nazca airfield control tower before contact was lost. President Keiko Fujimori, who took office this week, expressed deep regret over the accident and said authorities were investigating the cause.

Tourism flights had resumed Friday (July 31) after being suspended due to strong winds, according to state news agency Andina.

The Nazca Lines, enormous drawings and geometric figures etched into desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting approximately 100,000 annual visitors. Visitors typically view them from small aircraft flying over the site.

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STORY: A small tourist plane crashed Saturday (August 1) while flying over Peru's Nazca Lines archaeological site, killing all 13 people aboard, provincial authorities said.

The Aerodiana aircraft was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two crew members when it went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, approximately 6 km from Nazca city and 12 km from the ancient geoglyphs, according to Peru's Ministry of Commerce and Tourism.

Police reports to local press indicated the accident occurred at 12:55 p.m. local time as the plane was preparing to return from a sightseeing flight. The aircraft caught fire after impact, making rescue impossible, according to Peruvian broadcaster RPP, with firefighters and municipal police dispatched to extinguish flames and recover bodies.

The crash came one day after flights over the Nazca Lines were suspended due to winds exceeding 40 kph that reduced visibility, forcing two other tourist planes to divert to alternate airports, local media reported.

The cause remains under investigation. The Nazca Lines, massive desert drawings that are a UNESCO World Heritage site, attract approximately 100,000 annual visitors who typically view them from small aircraft.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: NAZCA, PERU (AUGUST 1, 2026) (IDS NOTICIAS - No use Peru / No Archive / No resale / Must on screen courtesy IDS Noticias)

1. VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING FROM CRASHED TOURISM AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE

2. FIRE TRUCK ARRIVING AT THE SCENE

3. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS SPRAYING WATER ON CRASHED AIRCRAFT

4. PARTS OF CRASHED AIRCRAFT WITH SMOKE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN NATIONAL POLICE MAJOR, JORGE ANDRADE, SAYING:

"Eleven passengers and two crew members, which would be the pilot and the guide or copilot, but it is a tourism service aircraft."

6. POLICE OFFICER WALKING THROUGH ACCIDENT AREA

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN NATIONAL POLICE MAJOR, JORGE ANDRADE, SAYING:

REPORTER ASKING: Are there any survivors?

"Given the magnitude, no, there are none."

8. INSPECTOR FROM THE CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTORATE GENERAL, WILLIAM ACOSTA, GIVING STATEMENTS TO JOURNALISTS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INSPECTOR FROM THE CIVIL AVIATION DIRECTORATE GENERAL, WILLIAM ACOSTA, SAYING:

REPORTER ASKING: The nationality of at least some crew members?

"I believe they are Italian."

REPORTER ASKING: All 11 are Italian?

"I don't know if all 11."

REPORTER ASKING: But there are Italian tourists?

"Yes."

10. ACCIDENT AREA WHERE AIRCRAFT CRASHED

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SHOWS: NAZCA, PERU (AUGUST 1, 2026) (IDS Noticias - No use Peru / No archive / No resale / Must on screen courtesy IDS Noticias)

1. VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING FROM WRECKED AIRCRAFT AT CRASH SITE

2. VARIOUS OF BODIES COVERED WITH PLASTIC BAGS

JUNIN, PERU (AUGUST 1, 2026) (PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT HANDOUT - Access all)

3. VARIOUS OF PERUVIAN PRESIDENT KEIKO FUJIMORI AND DEFENSE MINISTER RAFAEL BELAUNDE

INSIDE HELICOPTER

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PERUVIAN PRESIDENT KEIKO FUJIMORI, SAYING:

"First, I deeply regret this accident. Twelve people have lost their lives. The transport minister is conducting the corresponding investigation and the foreign minister is communicating with the consulates of the foreign citizens who have lost their lives. Yes, the temporary suspension of this airport is being evaluated."

NAZCA, PERU (AUGUST 1, 2026) (IDS Noticias - No use Peru / No archive / No resale / Must on screen courtesy IDS Noticias)

5. POLICE OFFICERS CARRYING BODY TO VEHICLE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROGER SARMIENTO, MAYOR OF VISTA ALEGRE DISTRICT, SAYING:

"I have information that the passengers are Italian, there are seven Italians, two Germans, two Spanish, and the crew members who are two. My condolences to them."

7. POLICE OFFICERS AT RESTRICTED CRASH SITE

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SHOWS: NAZCA, PERU (AUGUST 1, 2026) (IDS Noticias - No use Peru / No resale / No archive / Must on screen courtesy IDS Noticias)

1. VARIOUS OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AT PLANE CRASH SITE

2. VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS CARRYING BODIES IN BODY BAGS AND LOADING THEM INTO VEHICLE

3. POLICE OFFICERS TALKING AT PLANE CRASH SITE