Kathmandu. At least 13 people were killed when a European passenger plane crashed near the Peruvian city of Nazca on Saturday, local officials said. The plane was flown for a view of the famous Nazca Lines.

According to the municipality of Nazca, the plane had taken off from the nearby town of Ica. Aerodiana, a Peruvian company, has been flying the Cessna Grand Caravan over Nazca Lines for the past 14 years.

The Nazca Lines are a group of giant desert carvings by the ancient inhabitants of Peru. These animal-shaped landscapes can only be clearly seen from aircraft or special viewing towers.

The deceased were seven Italians, two Spaniards aged 52 and two Germans aged 77 and 78, according to Peru’s transport ministry. Pilot Americo Salazar and co-pilot Irenca Guaniello del Carpio were also killed, the ministry said.

President Keiko Fujimori expressed regret over the accident and said a decision on the temporary suspension of Nazca airport would be made after the report of the relevant ministries.

Peruvian authorities said they were investigating the cause of the crash. There was no immediate comment on the incident.