13 killed in tourist aircraft crash in Peru

Lima: Thirteen people have lost their lives in the crash of a small tourist aircraft while flying over the Nazca Lines archaeological site in southern Peru, according to authorities in the region.

Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism stated in an official release that the aircraft was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two pilots.

Local authorities reported that the plane went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, approximately six kilometres from the city of Nazca and roughly 12 kilometres from the Nazca Lines site.

Local radio station RPP reported that the aircraft was engulfed in flames, rendering any rescue operation impossible. Firefighters and local police personnel were dispatched to extinguish the blaze and carry out initial recovery efforts.

The Nazca Lines—massive geoglyphs and geometric figures etched into the desert plains—are one of southern Peru's premier tourist attractions, drawing nearly 100,000 visitors annually. Tourists typically view the site from small aircraft that overfly the area.