'Dedicated' Tennessee trooper, sheriff's deputy killed after helicopter hits power line and crashes

West Tennessee Drug Task Force Sergeant Lee Russell of the Tennessee Highway Patrol

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper and a local sheriff's deputy were killed Tuesday when their helicopter crashed, authorities said.

The Bell 206 rotorcraft was flying near Whiteside on Tuesday when it “struck a power line and crashed in a wooded area of ​​Aetna Mountain,” according to a Federal Aviation Administration statement obtained by PEOPLE.

The helicopter was en route to an undisclosed destination when the accident occurred, according to an FAA database.

The crash occurred “under unknown circumstances” and was considered an accident, according to the agency.

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Sergeant Lee Russell of the Tennessee Highway Patrol was identified as one of the victims killed in Tuesday's incident, according to a Facebook post from the Scott County Sheriff's Department. The sheriff's deputy, whose name was not released, was with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

The officers were “serving the citizens of the State of Tennessee” when the “terrible” accident occurred, according to SCSD.

West Tennessee Drug Task Force

“May God bless these dedicated police officers and their families during this unimaginable time,” the ministry wrote.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and MCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

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The Hardin County Sheriff's Department and the West Tennessee Drug Task Force also mourned Russell's death in their own tributes on social media.

The task force said Russell “loved Tennessee,” while the HSCO said the officer “provided vital assistance to our department on numerous occasions.”

“As many know, Trooper Russell has provided vital assistance to our department on numerous occasions,” HSCO wrote. “The safety of the people of Hardin County has been protected, in part, because of Trooper Lee’s service.”

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The plane involved in Tuesday's crash is registered with the Tennessee Department of Safety in Nashville, according to the FAA registry.

The FAA will investigate the accident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which “will be in charge” and will “provide additional updates” in the future, according to the agency's statement.