NASCA, ICA REGION, PERU – AUGUST 1, 2026 Tragic crash of a small tourist plane occurred near the city of Nasca in Peru’s Ica region. The aircraft, which was conducting a sightseeing flight over the famous Nazca Lines, crashed shortly after takeoff from the city of Pisco. All 13 people on board died in the accident – 11 passengers and two crew members.
The plane belonged to Aerodiana, a company specializing in sightseeing flights over one of the most famous archaeological sites in South America. The Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft took off from Pisco Airport and its destination was a panoramic flight over the vast figures carved into the Nazca desert, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to preliminary information, problems occurred during the flight, after which the crew declared an emergency. The aircraft then lost communication and crashed in an area near the city of Nasca. After impact, it caught fire, and rescuers who arrived at the crash site found no survivors.
The victims were mainly foreign tourists who had traveled to Peru specifically to visit the historic Nazca Lines. According to local authorities, passengers from several European countries, including Italy, Germany, and Spain, were killed. Both crew members were Peruvians.
The cause of the crash has not yet been officially determined. Investigators are examining several possible factors, including a technical failure, crew error, or the impact of weather conditions. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of one of the deadliest accidents involving tourist flights over the Nazca area.
Sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines are among Peru’s most popular tourist attractions. Visitors often take these flights in small aircraft because the enormous figures of animals, plants, and geometric shapes are difficult to see from the ground. However, the area has experienced several fatal accidents involving similar tourist flights in the past.
READ MORE:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/1/police-say-13-killed-as-small-plane-viewing-nazca-lines-in-peru-crashes
https://apnews.com/article/peru-plane-crash-912cc69276f12afbfc921fa8b71c03c3
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/thirteen-die-tourist-plane-crash-over-perus-nazca-lines-tvperu-says-2026-08-01/
