Kenya’s defense chief and nine other top brass died on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country.

The president, William Ruto who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived.

He further disclosed that the Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

President Ruto however regretted that the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Chesegon, where he and his entourage had been visiting a school.