Two Killed in U.S. Army AH-64 Apache Helicopter Crash Near Salado, Texas
Two people were killed Wednesday when a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a rural field south of Salado, Texas, authorities confirmed.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Office received 911 calls around 1:33–1:35 p.m. local time reporting the crash and a rapidly growing grass fire. Responding deputies found the wreckage in a field near Dove Hollow Lane / Kuykendall Branch Road area and described the impact as “violent.” The two crew members aboard were pronounced dead at the scene around 2:30 p.m. No homes, structures, or other people were struck.
The aircraft, based at nearby Fort Hood, was confirmed by the Army as an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, said in a statement: “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.”
The crash ignited a large grass fire that was initially described as out of control. Several nearby homes were evacuated, and a portion of Farm to Market Road 2843 was closed. The Texas A&M Forest Service reported the fire covering roughly 100 acres with zero percent containment at last update. Local emergency responders, military personnel, and law enforcement remain on scene.
The identities of the two killed have not been released. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Hood leading the probe.
