- An Aerodiana plane on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO world heritage site crashed near Peru’s Nazca Lines, killing 11 tourists and two crew members.
- Before radio contact was lost, the crew reported a mechanical problem; Minister Rogers Valencia said: “There was a call from the aircraft indicating that it was experiencing mechanical problems.”
- The pilots of the Cessna Grand Caravan C-208 notified the control tower at Nazca airfield of the emergency, after which radio contact was lost.
- The Aviation Accident Investigation Commission is analyzing the call, flight path, and mechanical evidence; authorities have not said whether the reported problem caused the crash.
- Those aboard included tourists from Spain, Italy and Germany plus two Peruvian crew members; seven Italian and two German tourists died, along with two Spanish tourists.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences, and the Italian Foreign Ministry said families of the Italian victims had been notified.
- Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said suspension of Pisco Airport was being evaluated, while Minister Valencia called the airport fully operational; Aerodiana said it was fully prepared to provide support.
- Aerodiana said it has maintained an unwavering commitment to passenger safety over 18 years of operation and reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate with authorities.
A tragic plane crash in southern Peru claimed the lives of 13 individuals, including 11 tourists from Spain, Italy, and Germany, and two Peruvian crew members. The Aerodiana flight, which was on a sightseeing tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, reported mechanical issues before losing contact with the Nazca airfield control tower.123614151617
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the airfield shortly after taking off from Pisco Airport. Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rogers Valencia confirmed that the crew had indicated they were experiencing mechanical problems before the crash.45
Valencia stated, “There was a call from the aircraft indicating that it was experiencing mechanical problems,” adding that the Aviation Accident Investigation Commission is currently analyzing the situation. He noted that authorities have not yet determined whether the reported mechanical issues caused the crash.78
The victims included seven Italian and two German tourists, as well as two Spanish tourists. The Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it is in contact with Peruvian authorities and has notified the families of the victims. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed condolences, stating, “On behalf of the Italian government and on my own behalf, I express my deepest condolences to their loved ones at this time of immense grief.”1213
Aerodiana, the airline involved, expressed its condolences and commitment to cooperate fully with the investigation. Valencia mentioned that the operational status of Pisco Airport is under evaluation, with potential suspensions being considered pending the investigation's outcome.
“The Aviation Accident Investigation Commission is analyzing the call, flight path, and mechanical evidence from the wreckage but has not said whether the reported problem caused the crash. Seven Italian and two German tourists died, along with two Spanish tourists, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered condolences.”
