- Two soldiers were killed when a U.S. Army Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Salado, Texas, on Wednesday, the Army and local law enforcement officials said.
- Two people on board are pronounced dead at the scene around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Bill Coleman.
- The crash sparked a wildfire that is still burning out of control as of about 3:30 p.m. local time.
- The Army confirms the helicopter was an AH-64 Apache based out of Fort Hood; no cause or identities released yet.
- The crash occurred in a field and didn't hit any homes or other structures, according to Coleman.
- Fort Hood is located near Killeen, Texas, slightly northwest of Salado and roughly 70 miles north of Austin.
Two soldiers were killed when a U.S. Army Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Salado, Texas, on Wednesday. The Bell County Sheriff's Office reported that the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time, with both individuals pronounced dead at the scene.17
According to spokesperson Bill Coleman, the helicopter crashed into a field, avoiding any homes or structures. "You could tell this was a violent crash," he remarked, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was confirmed to be based out of Fort Hood by Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, the acting commanding general. He stated, "Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts. Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information."
As of 3:30 p.m. local time, the crash had also sparked a wildfire that was still burning out of control. There was no immediate information regarding the cause of the crash or the identities of the victims, with the Army indicating that names would be released 24 hours after family notifications.3
“The crash occurred in a field and did not hit any homes or structures, according to Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Bill Coleman, who described it as 'a violent crash.' The Army said names of the victims would be released 24 hours after families were notified, and no cause has been determined yet.”
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