Authorities in Peru have grounded the sightseeing carrier Aerodiana following a deadly crash that killed all 13 people aboard a tourist flight over one of the nation’s most famous archaeological landmarks.
The Aug. 1, 2026, disaster claimed the lives of 11 European sightseers and two Peruvian pilots when their Cessna 208B Grand Caravan went down near Pueblo Viejo, roughly four miles (6 km) outside the city of Nazca and approximately 12 km from the Nazca Lines themselves. Among the dead were seven Italians ranging in age from 18 to 54, two Spanish nationals both 52 years old, and two Germans aged 77 and 78. The flight crew, Americo Salazar Cuellar as pilot and Irenka Guanilo del Carpio as copilot, also lost their lives in the crash.
Distress Call Preceded Loss of Contact
Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rogers Valencia confirmed pilots transmitted a distress call reporting mechanical troubles before communication ceased. The 12-passenger aircraft took off from Pisco Airport around 1 p.m. local time, bound for an aerial tour of the famous geoglyphs. Contact with the control tower was lost at approximately 1:20 p.m., Valencia said.
Peru’s Aviation Accident Investigation Commission is reviewing the distress transmission, flight data and wreckage evidence, though no direct causal link between the reported malfunction and the crash has yet been determined. Speaking from the scene, Valencia indicated examination of debris would yield a thorough picture of the failure, with results anticipated soon.
Police Major Jorge Andrade confirmed the death count to reporters and described challenging recovery conditions. Flames consumed the wreckage quickly in the desert terrain, leaving firefighters and police to navigate scorched debris. The rapid blaze made any rescue effort impossible.
Government Orders Airline Suspension
Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications issued an immediate suspension of all Aerodiana flights pending completion of the inquiry, mandating the operator remain grounded “until investigations are completed to verify the company’s compliance with the applicable aviation regulations, procedures and operating requirements.”
Aerodiana, which has provided Nazca Lines tours for 18 years, released a statement acknowledging the tragedy had profoundly impacted the organization and pledging complete cooperation with the probe. The company emphasized its longstanding dedication to the safety of passengers and crew.
International Response and Diplomatic Presence
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mourned the loss of her nation’s citizens, posting on social media her heartfelt sympathies to relatives “at this time of immense grief.” Italy’s Foreign Ministry reported its Lima embassy had begun working with Peruvian officials and notified families of the deceased Italians. Both the Italian and German consuls traveled to the crash location, according to Minister Valencia.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori expressed sorrow over the accident and announced officials were considering a temporary closure of the airport while relevant ministries conduct reviews.
Deadly History of Flights Over Ancient Geoglyphs
The Nazca Lines — a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of massive geoglyphs carved into the southern Peruvian desert between AD 200 and 700 — are nearly imperceptible from ground level and require aerial viewing for proper appreciation. The designs include depictions of animals such as monkeys, hummingbirds, cats and whales, along with geometric patterns stretching several kilometers. UNESCO has called the markings one of archaeology’s most profound mysteries due to their scale, diversity and continuity.
This aerial access requirement has fueled a lucrative but hazardous charter flight sector in the area. The crash joins a grim sequence of prior incidents. Seven people died in a 2022 crash near the Lines, including two Chileans and three Dutch passengers. An October 2010 AirNasca disaster killed British tourists and Peruvian crew after a sightseeing trip. Earlier that year, a Cessna 206 crashed in the same zone, killing seven people including four nationals of Peru and three of Chile. In April 2008, five French tourists died in another overflight accident, though the pilot survived that crash.
Peru welcomed more than 4.1 million international visitors in 2025, drawn to destinations including Machu Picchu’s Incan ruins and the Nazca geoglyphs. The nation’s population stands at just under 35 million. This string of fatal accidents has prompted persistent questions about regulatory oversight of small charter operators servicing the site, and the calamity will likely amplify pressure for stricter enforcement as the investigation continues.