A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Peruvian sightseeing carrier Aerodiana crashed during a tourist flight over Peru’s Nazca Lines, killing all 13 people on board.
The incident occurred on August 1, 2026, when an Aerodiana Cessna 208B Grand Caravan departed Pisco Airport (PIO) for a sightseeing flight over Peru’s famous Nazca Lines. Shortly after takeoff, the crew reported an emergency, and communication with air traffic control was lost. The aircraft later crashed near the town of Socos, killing all 13 people on board.
According to Peruvian authorities, the victims included 11 foreign tourists and two flight crew members. The passengers were identified as seven Italian nationals, two Spanish nationals, and two German nationals.
The cause of the accident has not been determined yet. Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications said an investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan is a single-engine turboprop manufactured by Textron Aviation. Certified to carry up to 14 passengers, the aircraft is widely used for regional transport, charter operations, and sightseeing flights because of its ability to operate from shorter runways.
The Nazca Lines, located in southern Peru’s Ica Region, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of hundreds of large geoglyphs etched into the desert more than 1,500 years ago. Because the figures are best viewed from the air, sightseeing flights have become one of the region’s most popular tourist activities.
The latest accident is not the first fatal crash involving a sightseeing flight over the Nazca Lines. Similar accidents occurred in 2022 and 2010, raising recurring concerns over the safety of aerial tourism in the area.
Aerodiana said it would cooperate with the official investigation and review its operations in accordance with any measures introduced by the authorities.
