A tourist flight over the iconic Nazca Lines in southern Peru ended in disaster on Saturday, 1 August 2026, when a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by Aerodiana crashed in the Pueblo Viejo sector of Nasca. All 13 people on board died: 11 foreign tourists, along with the pilot and a tour guide. Authorities have not yet released the passengers’ identities or nationalities. The aircraft was registered as OB-2001.
The crash occurred around 1 p.m. local time near the María Reiche airfield, a short distance from the airstrip that serves as a gateway for flights over the UNESCO World Heritage geoglyphs. The aircraft had departed from Pisco to give passengers an aerial view of famous desert figures, including the hummingbird and monkey, as well as the spider and condor. These figures attract thousands of visitors to the region each year.
Local officials confirmed that the aircraft belonged to Aerodiana and said emergency protocols were activated immediately after the alert. The Provincial Municipality of Nasca coordinated with local authorities to support rescue and recovery operations. Peru’s Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación (CIAA) has exclusive responsibility for the investigation. Its president is Carlos Portocarrero Bustamante, and Carlos Cordero Paredes is the investigator in charge.
The investigation remained active as of 19 October, when aviation outlet A21 reported that Chile’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) had provided technical assistance to the CIAA. Chilean specialists worked in person from 30 September to 9 October and returned to Chile on 11 October. They reviewed operational records and examined the wreckage stored in Pisco, then conducted technical interviews with Aerodiana representatives and flight personnel. The review focused on operating procedures and human factors. The CIAA retained authority over the case, and the assistance did not determine the cause or assign blame.
The tragedy came one day after severe weather forced the suspension of tourist flights in the area. On Friday, strong Paracas winds swept through the Ica region, with gusts exceeding 40 kilometers per hour and drastically reducing visibility. The adverse conditions led to two tourist planes being diverted to Marcona airfield and prompted operators to halt flights until Saturday. In Pisco, wind speeds reached 48 kilometers per hour, damaging school infrastructure and bringing down trees along the Panamericana Sur highway. Streets were also temporarily closed. The CIAA is reviewing the flight’s operating procedures and human factors alongside an examination of the wreckage; no definitive cause had been publicly assigned as of the 19 October report.
The latest incident has reignited debate over the safety of tourist flights above the Nazca Lines, a sector that has seen several fatal accidents in recent years. In 2022, a plane from Aero Santos crashed shortly after takeoff near the same airfield, killing seven people, including crew members and international tourists. A 2010 crash involving AriNasca claimed six lives. The region is observing a day of mourning as rescue teams continue recovery efforts and aviation experts work to clarify the circumstances behind the latest tragedy.
Flight safety in Peru’s tourist regions remains a pressing concern, given the economic importance of aerial tours for local communities. The Nazca Lines, recognized globally for their archaeological significance, draw visitors from around the world, making reliable air transport impressive to the area’s tourism industry. As the CIAA’s investigation proceeds, technical assessments and regulatory oversight remain basic to efforts to prevent further incidents. Other regions have faced similar safety challenges during adverse weather. In Almería, emergency teams conducted extensive searches after a deadly wildfire, as detailed in this report on post-disaster response in Spain. The outcome of the current investigation is expected to influence future regulations for tourist flights over the Nazca Lines and other sensitive sites.
