On 1 August 2026, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by Aerodiana crashed near Nazca, Peru, while performing a sightseeing flight over the Nazca Lines. The aircraft departed from Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera Airport in Pisco, Peru. All 13 people on board the airplane were killed. Peruvian authorities have launched an investigation into the crash.

Background Aircraft The aircraft involved in the accident was a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, registered as OB-2001-P, which was operated and owned by the local company Aerodiana. The aircraft was chartered by the travel agency Perù A Travel for a sightseeing flight over the Nazca Lines.

Occupants Those aboard the aircraft included 7 Italian, 2 Spanish, and 2 German tourists alongside the two Peruvian pilots (captain Americo Salazar and first officer Irenka del Carpio).

Accident The aircraft departed Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera Airport, Pisco, Peru, for a sightseeing flight at around 00:10 PET, with two pilots and eleven passengers on board. While cruising, at 13:01 PET, the pilots declared an emergency stating that a loss of control occurred. Soon after contact with the aircraft was lost as it crashed near the Panamericana Sud road, near the village of Pueblo Viejo, in the vicinity of Nazca. Another nearby plane was sent to check the condition of the Aerodiana flight, and its pilot spotted a large plume of smoke coming from the area. Rescue teams stated that the aircraft was completely destroyed and caught fire on impact. All thirteen people on board were killed. The crash site was closed by the police to help with the recovery of bodies and aircraft parts.The bodies of the victims were take to a morgue at Ica Medical Center for identification.

Investigation The Peruvian agencies on flight safety CIAA and DGAC, coordinated by the Ministry of Transport and Communications immediately launched an investigation into the accident. The crash site has been subjected to restricted access and investigators are recovering pieces of wreckage. It is currently unknown if the aircraft was carrying any flight recorder. On August 4, Peruvian authorities invited agencies from the United States (the country where the aircraft was manufactured), Italy, Spain and Germany, to take part in the investigation.

Peruvian authorities have stated that weather is currently being considered as the most probable cause of the crash. Strong winds, often exceeding 40 km/h, locally called Paracas winds, hit the region in the days prior to the crash, causing damage to trees and structures, and also bringing large quantities of sand and dust at high altitudes, reducing visibility. Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera Airport in Pisco remained closed until July 31, even though high winds were still present at higher altitudes, like the one at which the plane was cruising. Pisco airport was closed again after the crash and Aerodiana rescheduled its service.

Videos published online, by the Peruvian news channel Noticias de Piura, show the airplane descending out of control towards the ground, and breaking up in mid-air. These videos were initially considered by the investigators, but were later dismissed as fake after an analysis of the wreckage.

On 3 August Peruvian aviation authorities forced Aerodiana to suspend all of its operations for the duration of the investigation, to let the investigators verify if the airline was following correctly safety regulations.

Reactions Peruvian president Keiko Fujimori sent condolences to the families of the victims and stated that authorities were offering the needed support to them, also through the embassies and consulates of the countries of origin of the foreign passengers. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni also sent her condolences to the families of the victims; while foreign minister Antonio Tajani stated that he is in continuous contact with the Italian embassy in Lima. The German and Italian consuls in Lima visited the crash site on August 3.

Aerodiana issued a statement after the crash in which they offered their condolences to the families of the victims, and they stated that they were collaborating thoroughly with investigative authorities and helping them collect evidence. The airline rescheduled its flight after the accident.

See also Widerøe Flight 839, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 that lost control in high winds

References