Disasters & Incidents
Peru probes Nazca Lines plane crash that killed 13
Peruvian authorities are investigating why a small tourist plane crashed after taking off from Pisco airport for a flight over the Nazca Lines, killing all 13 people on board.
The Cessna 208 Caravan, operated by AeroDiana, crashed on August 1 after leaving the airport in Pisco, about 240 kilometers south of Lima. The dead were seven Italians, two Germans, two Spaniards and two Peruvian crew members.
The Public Prosecutor's Office said the investigation would be carried out with the relevant authorities once work at the crash site was completed. It said DNA tests would be conducted because of the condition in which the bodies were recovered, allowing victims to be identified and returned to their families.
Foreign Trade Minister Rogers Valencia said the pilot reported mechanical problems before the crash, but said it had not yet been determined whether there was an engine failure.
Carlos Cordero of the Transportation Ministry's aviation accident investigation commission said the plane appeared to explode because of the impact and did not explode beforehand.
AeroDiana, which offers sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines, said it regretted the accident and was cooperating with authorities. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered condolences for the deaths of seven Italian citizens.
The Nazca Lines are geoglyphs etched into desert sands between 500 BC and 500 AD and are viewed from the air by tourists. Deadly crashes on Nazca Lines sightseeing flights have happened before, including a 2022 crash that killed seven people.
Update
Peruvian authorities said they are investigating the crash in coordination with relevant authorities to determine its cause.
The Public Prosecutor's Office said DNA tests will be used to identify the victims so their remains can be returned to families.
Foreign Trade Minister Rogers Valencia said the pilot reported mechanical problems before the crash, while adding that engine failure had not been determined.
Carlos Cordero of the Transportation Ministry's aviation accident investigation commission said the plane appeared to explode on impact and not before.
AeroDiana said it was cooperating with authorities and making required information available.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered condolences after seven Italian citizens were killed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 19:41:32 UTC.
Update
A transport ministry spokesman said the dead included seven Italians, two Germans, two Spaniards and two crew members.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said her government was considering the possible closure of Pisco airport.
The transport ministry said Peru's civil aviation authority and air accident agency will investigate the crash.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 02:06:57 UTC.
Update
Peru's foreign trade ministry said the 11 passengers were foreign tourists and said it would assist the embassies involved.
RPP radio reported that seven Italians, two Germans and two Spaniards were killed.
The plane was operated by AeroDiana, which runs sightseeing flights over the Nazca Lines.
Vista Alegre municipal officials said preliminary information indicated an in-flight emergency, without giving details.
A resident of Vista Alegre said the plane exploded on impact.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 22:14:17 UTC.
Update
Police Major Jorge Andrade said there were no survivors.
Andrade said four bodies had been recovered so far.
The crash happened shortly after 1:00 pm local time after takeoff from Pisco airport.
Andrade gave no immediate indication of the cause.
Peru's civil aviation authority will investigate the crash.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 20:16:40 UTC.
Update
Police Major Jorge Andrade said 11 passengers and two crew members died.
The plane was carrying tourists to view Peru's Nazca Lines archaeological site.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 19:52:18 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the crash has not been determined.
Authorities have not determined whether there was an engine failure.
Source
AFP news report published on .