13 killed as tourist flight crashes over Peru’s Nazca Lines
The latest fatal sightseeing flight over Peru's Nazca Lines is likely to trigger a complex international assistance and repatriation response
All 13 people on board a tourist aircraft were killed after a sightseeing flight crashed near Peru’s Nazca Lines archaeological site on 1 August, in the latest fatal accident involving flights over one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.
The Cessna Caravan C-208 was carrying 11 tourists and two pilots when it came down near Pueblo Viejo after departing from Pisco Airport. Peruvian authorities said there were no survivors.
According to Peru’s state news agency, the passengers included seven Italian nationals, two Germans and two Spaniards. Recovery operations were continuing following the crash, while authorities launched an investigation into its cause.
The aircraft had been conducting a scenic flight over the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nazca Lines, a network of ancient geoglyphs that attracts thousands of international visitors each year. Aerial tours remain one of the most popular ways to view the site due to the scale of the drawings.
Local authorities expressed condolences to the families of those killed, while operator Aerodiana said it would review its flight schedule in line with instructions from the relevant aviation authorities.
The accident is likely to trigger a coordinated international response involving local emergency services, diplomatic representatives, travel insurers and assistance companies supporting the victims’ families.
Such incidents can require extensive logistical coordination, including identification of victims, liaison with local authorities, repatriation of remains, and support for relatives travelling overseas.
The crash also renews attention on the safety of scenic aviation operations in Peru. In 2022, another sightseeing aircraft crashed during a flight over the Nazca Lines, killing all seven people on board, while a similar accident in 2010 claimed six lives.
Although investigations into the latest accident are at an early stage, the recurrence of fatal crashes on the popular tourist route is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of operational safety and oversight within Peru’s sightseeing aviation sector.
Editorial Team
The Editorial Team updates the ITIJ website daily, and works on features for the print edition. With expert industry knowledge and years of experience in writing about complex travel insurance issues, the Editorial Team is ready to investigate and report on the topics that matter most to ITIJ's readers.