Aug. 12 - An AH-64 Apache attack helicopter operating out of the U.S. Army's Fort Hood base crashed into a field in Bell County, Texas, on Wednesday, killing two soldiers who were aboard the aircraft, authorities said.
The crash site is located in Bell County, roughly 60 miles (100 km) north of Austin, according to Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office. Coleman said the county justice of the peace declared two people who had been on board dead at the scene.
Fort Hood issued a statement confirming that an Apache helicopter assigned to the installation had crashed and that two soldiers died. The base did not release the identities of the deceased pending notification of next of kin.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott posted a statement on X saying, "Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military."
Photographs supplied by Coleman showed firefighters inspecting burning wreckage set against a wide stretch of scorched grass, with smoke rising from the location. Several local fire departments responded to the blaze as crews worked to contain the fire and examine the debris.
Details reported
- The accident involved an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter attached to Fort Hood.
- Occurrence took place in Bell County, about 60 miles north of Austin.
- Two individuals on board were declared dead; their identities have not been released pending family notification.
- Local fire departments responded to a substantial grass fire and examined burning debris at the scene.
Context and implications
The available information confirms the loss of two service members and a significant on-site fire, but officials have not released details on what caused the helicopter to crash. The incident engaged local emergency services in fire suppression and scene management. Beyond the immediate human toll and emergency response, officials have not provided further operational or investigatory updates.