Overview
- An AH-64E Apache assigned to Fort Hood crashed in a field near Salado on Wednesday, killing both crew members and creating a violent impact that ignited a large grass fire.
- The blaze prompted evacuations and road closures and burned roughly 100 to 155 acres with firefighters reporting about 85% containment by evening.
- Fort Hood identified the helicopter and completed next-of-kin notifications while transporting the deceased to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center.
- Fort Hood’s Criminal Investigation Division is leading the on-site probe with investigators from the Army Combat Readiness Center and the Army has temporarily grounded Apache training flights pending a root-cause finding.
- The AH-64 Apache is the Army’s primary two-person attack helicopter and this crash will likely prompt a safety review that could affect training practices and readiness across units that operate the type.