Eight people have died in a fatal helicopter crash in Ghana, including the country’s Defense and Environment Ministers, Edward Omane Boamah and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. The aircraft, a Chinese-made Harbin Z-9 belonging to the Air Force, crashed shortly after takeoff.

Hours earlier, Ghana’s armed forces had reported that a military helicopter carrying three crew members and five passengers had disappeared from radar screens. The aircraft was en route from Accra to the city of Obuasi, northwest of the capital. No one on board survived the crash. Among the deceased are also the Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Muniru Muhammad, a former Agriculture Minister, and the Vice Chairman of the President’s party, the NDC, Samuel Sarpong.

The government described the crash as a “national tragedy,” and flags were flown at half-mast across the country. President Mahama and the government expressed their condolences and solidarity to the families of the deceased. No information has yet been released regarding the cause of the crash.