Ghana’s presidency announced on Wednesday that Defense Minister Edward Amaan Buama and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed were among the victims of a helicopter crash in the country’s north.

The announcement came just hours after the Ghana Armed Forces reported the loss of contact with a helicopter carrying three crew members and five passengers. Authorities later confirmed the aircraft had crashed and identified several high-profile casualties.

Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama, confirmed the deaths and expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the presidency. An official investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway.

The incident marks one of the most serious aviation accidents involving senior government officials in recent Ghanaian history.