Latest / Aviator Daily Briefing / Aviator Daily Briefing — Tuesday, August 4th, 2026
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- Aviator Daily Briefing — Tuesday, August 4th, 2026 [Today's Top Stories] • All 13 Killed as Tourist Plane Crashes Near Peru's Nazca Lines • Kalitta Air Boeing 777 Suffers Tail Strike, Sparks During CVG Go-Around • AJet Signs BOC Aviation Lease for Five A321neos in Fleet Push • Two Killed as Firefighting Helicopters Collide Over Greek Wildfire All 13 Killed as Tourist Plane Crashes Near Peru's Nazca Lines A sightseeing flight over Peru's Nazca Lines ended in tragedy Saturday when a small tourist plane crashed near the city of Nazca, killing all 13 people on board. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by regional tour operator Aerodiana, was carrying 11 foreign tourists and two crew members when it went down in the Pueblo Viejo area, according to the Nazca municipal government and the Peruvian National Police. Authorities said the aircraft reported a mechanical problem to the Nazca airfield control tower shortly before radio contact was lost. The plane struck a field at approximately 12:55 p.m. local time and was quickly engulfed in flames, leaving no survivors. Victims included seven Italian nationals, two Spaniards and two Germans, along with pilot Américo Salazar and co-pilot Renkaanilo Carpio, as confirmed by local officials. Peru's Aviation Accident Investigation Commission has launched a formal probe into the crash. Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rogers Valencia said investigators are analyzing the emergency radio call, the flight path and physical evidence recovered from the wreckage. Peruvian authorities expressed deep regret over the accident and pledged a thorough investigation. Kalitta Air Boeing 777 Suffers Tail Strike, Sparks During CVG Go-Around A Kalitta Air Boeing 777-300ER freighter suffered a dramatic tail strike during a go-around at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The aircraft, registered as N778CK, had arrived from Brussels when the incident unfolded during an attempted landing on Runway 36R. Video footage widely circulated on social media — including a report from aviation channel CaptainSteeeve — captured the aircraft reaching an extreme nose-high attitude, producing a sustained shower of sparks as the tail scraped the runway surface. Air traffic control communications cited by FlightGlobal indicate the tower advised the crew of a confirmed tail strike during the maneuver, prompting an emergency declaration. Following the initial strike, the crew executed two additional missed approaches before landing safely on the third attempt. The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed it is investigating the occurrence, classifying it as an incident. Kalitta Air Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl said the aircraft has been removed from service and grounded pending a thorough inspection. N778CK is notable as the first 777-300ER converted to freighter configuration under the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) passenger-to-freighter program. No crew injuries were reported. AJet Signs BOC Aviation Lease for Five A321neos in Fleet Push AJet, the low-cost subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, has signed a long-term dry lease agreement with BOC Aviation for five Airbus A321neo aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. The Singapore-based lessor will supply the jets from its own orderbook, and BOC Aviation has confirmed the aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines. Kerem Sarp, CEO of AJet, said the new-generation narrowbodies will support the carrier's fleet modernization program, sustainability targets, and network expansion across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The BOC Aviation deal is the latest in a series of narrowbody acquisitions: AJet has previously secured 10 A321neos from Avolon for 2027 delivery and four A321neos from Carlyle Aviation Partners, and is expecting five A320neos from SMBC Aviation Capital between late 2025 and mid-2026. The diversified leasing approach reflects a broader Turkish Airlines Group strategy to scale AJet's operations and sharpen its competitiveness against rivals such as Pegasus Airlines at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen. Industry analysts note that sourcing aircraft across multiple lessors insulates the carrier from OEM supply chain volatility — a recurring concern given ongoing Pratt & Whitney GTF inspection programs — while bridging near-term capacity gaps during a period of aggressive low-cost growth. The A321neo offers roughly 20% lower fuel burn and a reduced noise footprint compared to the previous-generation A321ceo. Two Killed as Firefighting Helicopters Collide Over Greek Wildfire Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air during suppression operations west of Athens, Greece, killing two crew members. The crash occurred over the Psatha area, where the aircraft were battling severe wildfires. Two of the four crew members on board survived, according to the Hellenic Fire Service. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis identified the deceased as a Danish pilot and a Greek fire coordinator. The two survivors were identified as a British national and a Greek national. The aircraft — Bell helicopters leased by the Hellenic Fire Service — had departed from Elefsina military airport prior to the collision, according to reports from the BBC and Reuters. Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collision. Official findings remain pending, but the incident underscores the acute dangers of low-altitude aerial firefighting, which demands split-second coordination in conditions marked by dense smoke, turbulence and rapidly shifting winds. In a separate development, CNN reported that two Greek nationals were arrested on suspicion of negligence linked to electrical infrastructure sparks in Boeotia, as investigators examine the wildfire's origin. You can get the latest aviation news at https://aviatordb.com