Police say 13 killed as small plane viewing Nazca Lines in Peru crashes

What the report says

At least 13 people were killed when a small sightseeing plane crashed in southern Peru on Saturday, according to police cited by Al Jazeera. The aircraft was carrying passengers, described by authorities as mostly tourists, on a flight to view the Nazca Lines, the UNESCO-recognized archaeological site famous for its large geoglyphs. Police Major Jorge Andrade said 11 passengers and two crew members died in the crash.

Al Jazeera reported that the plane departed from Pisco, in the department of Ica, and that local media said the wreckage was quickly engulfed in flames, making rescue efforts difficult. Further details on the cause of the crash were not immediately available in the initial reports. The aircraft was said to be part of the fleet of Peruvian sightseeing company Aerodiana.

The Nazca Lines are a major tourist attraction in Peru and are typically viewed from the air because of their scale. They date to between 500 BC and 500 AD and are recognized by UNESCO for their cultural importance. The crash adds to concern over travel safety in a country that draws millions of visitors each year to destinations such as Cusco and Machu Picchu. That broader tourism context is general background, while the crash details reported here come from Al Jazeera and police statements.