Thirteen people lost their lives on August 1 when a Cessna Grand Caravan crashed and caught fire near the Nazca Lines in Peru. The aircraft was on a sightseeing flight over the famous geoglyphs when it went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, about 6 kilometres from Nazca city.
The victims included 11 tourists: seven Italians, two Germans travelling together, and two Spaniards. The pilot and copilot, Americo Salazar Cuellar and Irenka Del Carpio, were also among the dead.
The plane, operated by Peruvian airline Aerodiana, took off from Pisco around 1pm local time and lost contact with the control tower at approximately 1:20pm. Authorities confirmed there were no survivors, with bodies recovered from the crash site scattered across the desert floor.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Concerns
Peruvian police have launched an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. The local municipality expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
Aerodiana stated it will review its flight operations according to directives from relevant authorities. The Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from AD 200 to 700, attract numerous visitors annually. However, concerns over the safety and maintenance of aircraft used for tourist overflights have persisted, following previous fatal crashes in 2010 and 2022.
