Topic overview
In brief
- A sightseeing plane operated by Aerodiana crashed near Nazca, Peru, killing 13 people.
- The victims included 11 European tourists and two crew members.
- An investigation is underway, and President Keiko Fujimori is considering a temporary airport suspension.
Summary
On Saturday, a tragic accident occurred when a sightseeing plane crashed near the city of Nazca in Peru, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals. The plane, which was carrying European tourists to view the famous Nazca Lines, took off from the nearby city of Ica and was operated by Aerodiana, a Peruvian airline that has been providing scenic flights over the Nazca Lines for 14 years. The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs created by Peru's Indigenous inhabitants, depicting various animals and shapes that can only be fully appreciated from the air.
Among the deceased were 11 tourists, including seven Italian citizens aged between 18 and 54, two Spaniards aged 52, and two German nationals aged 77 and 78. The pilot, Américo Salazar, and the co-pilot, Irenka Guanilo del Carpio, were also among the fatalities. The Peruvian Transportation Ministry confirmed the identities of the victims and stated that an investigation into the accident is currently underway. The crash has raised concerns about the safety of sightseeing flights in the region, particularly given the popularity of the Nazca Lines as a tourist destination.