In brief
A small Cessna Caravan carrying 13 people crashed near the Nazca Lines on 1 August 2026, killing all aboard. The aircraft, operated by local airline Aerodiana, had departed from Pisco and was conducting a tourist flight over the famed geoglyphs. Passengers included two Germans, two Spaniards and seven Italians. The crash echoes earlier accidents over the site in 2010 and 2022, prompting authorities to review flight safety near the attraction. Police and the municipal council have confirmed the fatalities, and the airline will reassess its schedules following the tragedy.
Tourist Plane Crashes Over Peru, Killing 13
A Cessna Caravan C‑208 with 13 passengers and crew on board crashed near the Nazca Lines on 1 August 2026, killing all aboard. The aircraft had departed from the airport in Pisco to conduct a short tourist flight over the UNESCO‑listed geoglyphs.
The passengers were two Germans, two Spaniards and seven Italians, according to the Peruvian state news agency. Two pilots were also aboard. The cause of the crash is still unknown, with investigators examining meteorological data and aircraft maintenance records.
Police Major Jorge Andrade confirmed that the accident was severe and that four bodies have already been recovered. The incident occurred around 13:00 local time (19:00 BST) in the Pueblo Viejo region after a brief flight over the desert.
Video footage from Reuters shows firefighters spraying water on the wreckage as smoke rises from the fuselage.
The local municipal government expressed deep sorrow and sent heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. The Peruvian airline Aerodiana, which operated the flight, said it would "assess its flight schedule in accordance with the directives of the relevant authorities" and is cooperating with the investigation.
This crash is not the first over the area; a similar incident in 2022 killed seven, and a 2010 crash claimed six lives. The Nazca Lines remain a popular tourist destination, with visitors often flying in small planes to capture the vast geoglyphs.
