A plane carrying European tourists crashed near the Peruvian city of Nazca on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board, local authorities confirmed. The aircraft, operated by Peruvian airline Aerodiana, took off from the nearby city of Ica before the accident occurred.

The victims included seven Italian nationals, two Spaniards, and two Germans. The remaining two fatalities were the pilot and co-pilot. The group had been on a sightseeing flight to view the Nazca lines, a series of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert by indigenous peoples centuries ago. These figures, which depict various animals and shapes, are best appreciated from the air or designated viewing areas.

Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred as the plane was flying over the desert terrain near Nazca. Further details regarding the exact circumstances of the accident have yet to be released. Emergency responders arrived at the site promptly, but none of the passengers survived the impact.