U.S. Army orders temporary stand-down of AH-64 Apache training flights after two soldiers die in crash near Salado, Texas
The U.S. Army has temporarily grounded Apache helicopter training flights after two soldiers were killed in a crash in Salado, Texas.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down in a field near Fort Hood, according to Army and law enforcement officials. The military has not announced what caused the crash.
Apache helicopter crash in Texas
“The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident,” the Army said in a statement.
The Army identified the pilots as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmsted, 25. Both were native Texans.
“You could tell this was a violent crash,” Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Bill Coleman told reporters. Authorities said the helicopter did not strike any buildings, but the crash sparked a wildfire.
The Army’s response
The Army expressed condolences as the investigation continues.
“The Army is profoundly saddened by the loss of two soldiers in the recent AH64 Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood, Texas,” the Army said. “We mourn these aviators, and our deepest condolences remain with their families, friends and unit during this extraordinarily difficult time.”
Temporary stand-downs are not unusual following fatal military aircraft crashes, particularly when investigators have not determined a cause.
AH-64 Apache helicopters
The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine attack helicopter that typically carries a pilot and co-pilot gunner. The aircraft is equipped with a rapid-fire gun and can launch Hellfire missiles. Boeing has manufactured the newest iteration since the late 1990s, and the Army has called it “the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world.”
Hundreds of Apache helicopters are operated by Army and National Guard units. The aircraft have also been used during the U.S.-Iran war.
In June, an Apache patrolling the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by an Iranian drone, President Donald Trump announced. The two pilots were later rescued by a sea drone.