A sightseeing plane crashed in a field near Nazca, Peru on Saturday, killing 13 people, according to local authorities. The aircraft was conducting a tour flight over the Nazca Lines, a collection of large geoglyphs etched into the desert hundreds of years ago by Indigenous Peruvians. The designs depict animals and are visible only from aircraft or ground viewing platforms.
The plane departed from the city of Ica and was operated by Peruvian airline Aerodiana, which has operated scenic flights over the Nazca Lines for the past 14 years using Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, according to the company's website.
Peru's Ministry for Trade and Tourism reported that the plane carried 11 foreign tourists and two crew members. State news agency Agencia Andina identified the passengers as two German, two Spanish, and seven Italian nationals.
Nazca's municipal government announced the crash on Facebook. Peruvian authorities said the accident remains under investigation. Aerodiana did not immediately respond to requests for comment.