Key facts
- Two U.S. Army soldiers died when an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County, Texas.
- The helicopter was attached to Fort Hood base.
- The crash occurred during a routine training flight.
- A large grass fire was sparked by the crash, requiring evacuations.
- The Army's criminal investigation division is leading the probe into the cause.
Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed when an Apache military helicopter crashed in a field in Bell County, Texas, on Wednesday. The accident, which occurred about 60 miles north of Austin, also sparked a large grass fire that prompted evacuations.
Officials confirmed that both occupants of the AH-64 attack helicopter, which was attached to Fort Hood, died in the crash. The helicopter was reportedly on a routine training flight when it went down. Images from the scene showed firefighters examining burning debris amid a large patch of charred grass.
The Bell County justice of the peace declared the two individuals deceased. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed the fatalities on X, stating, "Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military." Fort Hood confirmed the crash and fatalities in a statement but withheld the soldiers' identities pending family notification.
Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff's Office, described the crash as "violent." The wildfire ignited by the crash burned approximately 100 acres and was reported to be 45% contained by 5 p.m. local time, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer. The helicopter did not strike any homes or structures. Fort Hood's criminal investigation division is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been in military service since 1984.