Two US Army soldiers killed in Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood, Texas

Crash details

An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter attached to Fort Hood crashed into a field in Bell County, Texas, on Wednesday, killing both soldiers on board. The aircraft was identified as an AH-64E variant based at Fort Hood, and it went down near the community of Salado, about 60 miles (100 km) north of the state capital Austin. The two people on board were identified as pilots. Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson with the Bell County Sheriff's Office, confirmed that both occupants died. The Bell County justice of the peace declared the two people on board dead at the scene, Coleman said. A military official told the Associated Press the helicopter was on a routine training flight when it went down. The official spoke anonymously because the situation was still developing. Fort Hood confirmed the crash in a statement but withheld the identities of the two soldiers pending notification to their families.

Fire and evacuation

The crash ignited a large grass fire that forced the evacuation of several homes in the surrounding area. The helicopter did not strike any homes or other structures when it crashed, Coleman said. Several local fire departments responded to the blaze. Images from the scene provided by Coleman showed firefighters examining burning debris amid a large patch of charred grass, with smoke billowing from the wreckage. Photographs showed firefighters walking around the charred field as plumes of dark smoke rose from flames still burning in the wreckage.

You could tell it was a violent crash.

Investigation and official response

No cause of the crash was immediately announced. Fort Hood's criminal investigation division is leading the investigation, Coleman said. The Pentagon had not publicly commented on the crash as of the initial reports. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general at Fort Hood, said the immediate priority was securing the site and supporting initial response efforts.

Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted on X about the crash.

Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military.

Fort Hood and the AH-64 Apache

Fort Hood is a large base covering 214,968 acres (86,994 hectares, or 336 square miles) and is used to train and deploy heavy forces. The Army says the rolling, arid terrain around the base provides an ideal training ground. The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been a key part of the military's fleet since the first versions were deployed in 1984. The Apache crew sits in tandem, with the pilot in the rear and the co-pilot gunner in the front position.

Previous fatal incidents at Fort Hood

The crash follows two prior fatal incidents at the base. In November 2015, four soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise. In 2016, nine Fort Hood soldiers died when a rain-swollen creek swept their vehicle into rushing waters.